The present development is a process to produce commodity chemicals such as methanol and syngas using an integrated plasma catalysis technology. The method comprises providing a fixed or fluidized bed reactor having a microwave plasma flame and a catalyst bed with a catalyst, wherein the catalyst is an alloyed bimetallic nanowire. In the process, the plasma flame fluidizes the catalyst thereby producing a more effective catalyst than the non-fluidized catalyst. It is anticipated that the reactor can have a throughput capacity of up to 30 Lpm/kW and can be effective for the conversion of CO.sub.2, CH.sub.4, air, water, and combinations thereof, through reactions such as pure CO.sub.2 splitting, reverse water gas shift (RWGS) for CO production, methanol synthesis, and plasma reforming of methane, thereby making a system that would be attractive for small GTL units.

A process for production of ammonia includes: providing a reaction stream including carbon monoxide and hydrogen; passing the reaction stream and steam over a water gas shift catalyst in a catalytic shift reactor, forming a shifted gas mixture depleted in carbon monoxide and enriched in hydrogen; passing the shifted gas mixture with an oxygen-containing gas over a selective oxidation catalyst at ≧175° C., forming a selectively oxidized gas stream with a portion of the carbon monoxide converted to carbon dioxide; removing some of the carbon dioxide from the selectively oxidized gas stream in a carbon dioxide removal unit; passing the carbon dioxide depleted stream over a methanation catalyst in a methanator to form a methanated gas stream, optionally adjusting its hydrogen:nitrogen molar ratio to form an ammonia synthesis gas; and passing the ammonia synthesis gas over an ammonia synthesis catalyst in an ammonia converter to form ammonia.

The present invention concerns a multifunctional catalyst for the conversion of CO.sub.2 into useful products, such as CO via the reverse water gas shift reaction. The catalyst according to the invention efficiently combined a water sorption functionality with at least one catalytic functionality into a single particle, by having a solid water sorbent impregnated with at least one metal capable of converting CO.sub.2 from a gaseous mixture comprising H.sub.2 and CO.sub.2. The catalyst according to the invention allows for higher selectivity in the conversion of CO.sub.2, at more lenient conditions in terms of temperature and pressure, and improved stability of the catalyst itself. The invention also concerns a process for converting CO.sub.2, utilizing the catalyst and the use of the catalyst in the conversion of CO.sub.2.

Described herein are reusable, mesh-based catalysts with superior mechanical stability and magnetic separability wherein the mesh may be formed in a variety of shapes and can be easily separated from a process stream and in combination with biomass torrefaction, reduces toxic emissions and produce hydrogen gas, which can be burned at the facility to generate heat or electricity.

A novel steam reforming catalyst comprising hibonite and potassium beta-alumina with improved resilience, improved activity, reduced potassium leaching and reduced coking problems. It also regards a method for producing the novel catalyst and uses of the novel catalyst in reforming reactors, in a plant for producing hydrogen gas, or in a plant for producing synthesis gas.

A catalyst composition for manufacturing a catalyst for hydrogen production based on thermochemical reaction of methanol is disclosed. The catalyst composition includes a support component and an active component. The support component includes cement and clay, wherein a weight ratio of the cement to the clay is 3/7 to 9/1. The active component includes copper oxide or a precursor of copper oxide. Based on 100 parts by weight of the support component, a content of the active component is 5 to 10 parts by weight.

A method for chemical production includes applying electromagnetic heating to a composition that includes a catalytic component and an electromagnetic susceptor. Responsive to application of radio frequency energy, the electromagnetic susceptor causes the catalytic component to become heated. The heated electromagnetic susceptor and catalytic component interact with a chemical to form a product.

A furnace for gas fields, refineries reforming, petrochemical plants, or hydrogen generation by gasification may include: a radiant zone; a convective zone; and a first and second series of pipes through which at least two segregated process gas flows respectively pass. A first process gas flow may enter the furnace through the convective zone and, flowing through the first series of pipes, may leave the furnace through the radiant zone, or alternatively the first process gas flow may enter the furnace through the radiant zone and, flowing through the first series of pipes, may leave the furnace through the radiant zone. At least a second process gas flow may enter the furnace through the convective zone, may pass through the second series of pipes, and may leave the furnace through the convective zone. The second of series of pipes may be made of material resistant to acid gases.

A catalyst for decomposition of hydrocarbons that is hard to cause deterioration of catalytic properties and suitable for producing hydrogen in a highly efficient manner for a long period is provided. The catalyst for the decomposition of hydrocarbons includes a nickel-containing layer exposed on a support layer selected from the group consisting of iron, cast iron, steel, copper, nickel, copper alloy, and iron nickel alloy. The catalyst for decomposition of hydrocarbons is produced by contacting a raw material of the catalyst with methane gas at an elevated temperature of 800° C. for 4 to 72 hours with an average residence time beyond 14 minutes. The catalyst further includes an interlayer comprising copper between the support layer and the nickel-containing layer, or the support layer is copper or copper alloy.

In a process for steam reforming of oxygenates, especially at low steam-to-carbon (S/C) ratios, a feed gas containing oxygenates, such as ethanol, is converted into syngas over a ternary carbide catalyst. Then the reformed gas is either transformed into desired chemicals or mixed into the feed stream to the reformer in a plant, such as an ammonia or methanol plant. The preferred ternary carbide is nickel zinc carbide.