Abstract: A process for producing carbon monoxide (CO) by reforming methane and steam in the presence of a reforming catalyst to produce a reformate product enriched in CO, carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen. CO2 in the enriched reformate is shifted to CO in an integrated sorption enhanced reaction (SER) cycle which employs a series of cyclic steps to facilitate reaction of CO2 and hydrogen at high conversion and to produce a CO-enriched product obtained at reactor feed pressure and at essentially constant flow rate. A series of adsorbent regeneration step including depressurization, purging and product pressurization are used to desorb water which is selectively adsorbed by the adsorbent during the shift reaction and to prepare the reactor for a subsequent process cycle.

Abstract: A cyclic process for operating an equilibrium controlled reaction in a plurality of reactors containing an admixture of an adsorbent and a reaction catalyst suitable for performing the desired reaction which is operated in a predetermined timed sequence wherein the heating and cooling requirements in a moving reaction mass transfer zone within each reactor are provided by indirect heat exchange with a fluid capable of phase change at temperatures maintained in each reactor during sorpreaction, depressurization, purging and pressurization steps during each process cycle.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for producing an essentially pure carbon monoxide (CO) product and an essentially pure hydrogen product by reforming a hydrocarbon such as methane and steam in the presence of a reforming catalyst to produce a reformate product enriched in CO, carbon dioxide and hydrogen. The reformate is subjected to an integrated series of separation steps and carbon dioxide present in a portion of the waste effluent recovered from such series of spearation steps is shifted to CO in an integrated sorption enhanced reaction (SER) process.

Abstract: In the steam reforming of hydrocarbon, particularly methane, under elevated temperature and pressure to produce hydrogen, a feed of steam and hydrocarbon is fed into a first reaction volume containing essentially only reforming catalyst to partially reform the feed. The balance of the feed and the reaction products of carbon dioxide and hydrogen are then fed into a second reaction volume containing a mixture of catalyst and adsorbent which removes the carbon dioxide from the reaction zone as it is formed. The process is conducted in a cycle which includes these reactions followed by countercurrent depressurization and purge of the adsorbent to regenerate it and repressurization of the reaction volumes preparatory to repeating the reaction-sorption phase of the cycle.