A two-reactor catalytic system including a catalytic membrane gasification reactor and a catalytic membrane water gas shift reactor. The catalytic system, for converting biomass to hydrogen gas, features a novel gasification reactor containing both hollow fiber membranes that selectively allow O.sub.2 to permeate therethrough and a catalyst that facilitates tar reformation. Also disclosed is a process of converting biomass to H2. The process includes the steps of, among others, introducing air into a hollow fiber membrane; mixing the O.sub.2 permeating through the hollow fiber membrane and steam to react with biomass to produce syngas and tar; and reforming the tar in the presence of a catalyst to produce more syngas.

A two-reactor catalytic system including a catalytic membrane gasification reactor and a catalytic membrane water gas shift reactor. The catalytic system, for converting biomass to hydrogen gas, features a novel gasification reactor containing both hollow fiber membranes that selectively allow O.sub.2 to permeate therethrough and a catalyst that facilitates tar reformation. Also disclosed is a process of converting biomass to H2. The process includes the steps of, among others, introducing air into a hollow fiber membrane; mixing the O.sub.2 permeating through the hollow fiber membrane and steam to react with biomass to produce syngas and tar; and reforming the tar in the presence of a catalyst to produce more syngas.

Electric-powered, closed-loop, continuous-feed, endothermic energy-conversion systems and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, the presently disclosed energy-conversion system includes a shaftless auger. In another embodiment, the presently disclosed energy-conversion system includes a drag conveyor. In yet another embodiment, the presently disclosed energy-conversion system includes a distillation and/or fractionating stage. The endothermic energy-conversion systems and methods feature mechanisms for natural resource recovery, refining, and recycling, such as secondary recovery of metals, minerals, nutrients, and/or carbon char.

A method is provided for thermally processing waste to produce steam and generate energy while minimizing air pollutants in a staged thermal reactor. The method includes gasifying the waste to convert the waste to a fuel gas and a substantially carbon free, inert, granulated, sintered mineral ash and reforming the fuel gas auto-thermally to minimize creation of nitrogen oxide when the fuel gas is combusted. The method further includes burning the reformed fuel gas to minimize creation of nitrogen oxide in a flame region of a fuel gas burner and recirculating cooled flue gas to control oxygen content and temperature during the reforming operation and the burning operation. In one example, reforming the fuel gas converts non-molecular nitrogen species into molecular nitrogen in an auto-thermal non-catalytic reformer unit by decomposition reactions promoted by a prevailing reducing gas atmosphere.

A method is provided for thermally processing waste to produce steam and generate energy while minimizing air pollutants in a staged thermal reactor. The method includes gasifying the waste to convert the waste to a fuel gas and a substantially carbon free, inert, granulated, sintered mineral ash and reforming the fuel gas auto-thermally to minimize creation of nitrogen oxide when the fuel gas is combusted. The method further includes burning the reformed fuel gas to minimize creation of nitrogen oxide in a flame region of a fuel gas burner and recirculating cooled flue gas to control oxygen content and temperature during the reforming operation and the burning operation. In one example, reforming the fuel gas converts non-molecular nitrogen species into molecular nitrogen in an auto-thermal non-catalytic reformer unit by decomposition reactions promoted by a prevailing reducing gas atmosphere.

A catalyst for COS hydrolysis includes titanium dioxide and a barium compound supported on the titanium dioxide. The catalyst, when expressing Ba and S in the catalyst in terms of BaO and SO.sub.3, respectively, has a molar ratio of SO.sub.3 to BaO of at least 1. The catalyst converts COS and H.sub.2O in a raw material gas to CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2S.

A catalyst for COS hydrolysis includes titanium dioxide and a barium compound supported on the titanium dioxide. The catalyst, when expressing Ba and S in the catalyst in terms of BaO and SO.sub.3, respectively, has a molar ratio of SO.sub.3 to BaO of at least 1. The catalyst converts COS and H.sub.2O in a raw material gas to CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2S.

A gas combustion treatment device that subjects an ammonia-containing gas, a hydrogen cyanide-containing gas, and a hydrogen sulfide-containing gas to combustion treatment includes: a first combustion unit configured to introduce therein fuel, the ammonia-containing gas, the hydrogen cyanide-containing gas, and air and burn and reduce the fuel and the gases at an air ratio lower than 1; a second combustion unit provided downstream of the first combustion unit and configured to burn and reduce, in a reducing atmosphere, nitrogen oxide in a first combustion gas sent from the first combustion unit; and a third combustion unit provided downstream of the second combustion unit and configured to introduce therein hydrogen sulfide-containing gas with air in addition to a second combustion gas sent from the second combustion unit.

A gas purification device includes: a converter packed with a catalyst for hydrolyzing both carbonyl sulfide and hydrogen cyanide; an upstream heat exchanger for heat exchange between a gas to be introduced into the converter and a cooling fluid for cooling the gas; a reaction-temperature estimation member for estimating a reaction temperature inside the converter; and a flow-rate adjustment member for adjusting a flow rate of the cooling fluid flowing into the upstream heat exchanger based on an estimated value of the reaction-temperature estimation member to control the reaction temperature.

A gas purification device includes: a converter packed with a catalyst for hydrolyzing both carbonyl sulfide and hydrogen cyanide; an upstream heat exchanger for heat exchange between a gas to be introduced into the converter and a cooling fluid for cooling the gas; a reaction-temperature estimation member for estimating a reaction temperature inside the converter; and a flow-rate adjustment member for adjusting a flow rate of the cooling fluid flowing into the upstream heat exchanger based on an estimated value of the reaction-temperature estimation member to control the reaction temperature.