Abstract: A method for preparing a copper-containing catalyst is described comprising the steps of: (a) combining an acidic copper-containing solution with a basic precipitant solution in a first precipitation step to form a first precipitate, (b) combining an alkali metal aluminate solution with an acidic solution in a second precipitation step to form a second precipitate, (c) contacting the first and second precipitates together in a further precipitate mixing step to form a catalyst precursor, and (d) washing, drying and calcining the catalyst precursor to form the copper-containing catalyst, wherein at least 70% by weight of the copper in the catalyst is present in the first precipitate and a silica precursor is included in the first precipitation step, the second precipitation step or the precipitate mixing step, to provide a catalyst with a silica content, expressed as SiO2, in the range of 0.1 to 5.0 wt %.

Abstract: A process for the production of hydrogen is described, the process comprises the steps of: (a) generating a synthesis gas comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and steam in a synthesis gas generation unit; (b) increasing the hydrogen content of the synthesis gas and decreasing the carbon monoxide content by subjecting it to one or more water-gas shift stages in a water-gas shift unit to provide a hydrogen-enriched gas, (c) cooling the hydrogen-enriched gas and separating condensed water therefrom, (d) passing the resulting de-watered hydrogen-enriched gas to a carbon dioxide separation unit to provide a carbon dioxide gas stream and a hydrogen gas stream, wherein the synthesis gas from step (a) is fed without adjustment of the carbon monoxide content to a water gas shift reactor.

Abstract: A method for preparing a copper-containing catalyst is described comprising the steps of: (a) combining an acidic copper-containing solution with a first basic precipitant solution in a first precipitation step to form a first precipitate, (b) combining an acidic aluminium-containing solution, further comprising one or more metal compounds selected from copper compounds, zinc compounds and promoter compounds, with a second basic precipitant solution in a second precipitation step to form a second precipitate, (c) contacting the first and second precipitates together in a further mixing step to form a catalyst precursor, and (d) washing, drying and calcining the catalyst precursor to form the copper-containing catalyst, wherein a silica precursor is included in the first precipitation step, the second precipitation step or the precipitate mixing step, to provide a catalyst with a silica content, expressed as S102, in the range of 0.1 to 5.0 wt%.