Abstract: Process for selectively reforming ethanol to a hydrogen-rich product in the presence of at least one catalyst comprising a catalytically active material supported on a carrier, the process comprising the following steps in which the at least one catalyst is active: transferring a stream of ethanol and steam and a hydrogen-comprising stream, the molar ratio of ethanol to hydrogen being 0.2-1, to a dehydration/hydrogenation reactor for dehydrating ethanol to ethylene and for hydrogenating ethylene to produce an ethane-containing stream, adiabatically pre-reforming the ethane-comprising stream to a stream comprising methane, steam reforming the stream comprising methane to produce a mixture comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide, converting the mixture comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide from the steam reforming step under water gas shift conditions to produce a hydrogen-rich product stream.

Abstract: A process for the production of hydrogen rich gas from a feedstock containing dimethyl ether and/or methanol by steam reforming dimethyl ether in presence of a reforming catalyst to a product gas being rich in hydrogen, wherein necessary heat for the endothermic steam reforming reactions is supplied through oxidation of part of the hydrogen contained in the steam reformed feedstock process in heat conducting relationship with the steam reforming reactions.