Hydrocarbon reforming

Claim 1

IN THE PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HYDROGEN WHEREIN A DESULFURIZED HYDROCARBON VAPOR STREAM IS REFORMED BY REACTION WITH STEAM AT A TEMPERATURE ABOVE 1200*F. IN THE PRESENCE OF A REFORMING CATALYST TO CONVERT HYDROCARBON TO CARBON MONOXIDE, CARBON DIOXIDE AND HYDROGEN; WHEREIN THE REFORMED STREAM IS COOLED AND SUBJECTED TO A WATER GAS SHIFT CONVERSION INVOLVING THE REACTION BETWEEN CARBON MONOXIDE IN SAID STREAM AND STEAM AT A TEMPERATURE BELOW 850*F. IN THE PRESENCE OF A SHIFT CATALYST TO CONVERT CARBON MONOXIDE TO CARBON DIOXIDE; WHEREIN THE CARBON DIOXIDES IN THE REACTION PRODUCT IS REMOVED BY ABSORPTION USING A LIQUID ABSORBENT, AND WHEREIN CARBON OXIDES REMAINING IN SAID STREAM AFTER CARBON DIOXIDE ABSORPTION ARE HYDROGENATED TO CONVERT THE CARBON OXIDES TO METHANE; THE STEPS OF ADSORBING THE CARBON DIOXIDE FROM THE SHIFTED GAS STREAM IN A THIOCYCLOPENTANE 1-DIOXIDE SOLUTION AND SUBSEQUENT TO THE SAID STEP PASSING THE STREAM THROUGH A BED OF ACTIVATED CARBON TO REMOVE THIOCYCLOPENTANE 1-DIOXIDE CARRIED OVER WITH THE STREAM TO BE METHANATED AND THEREBY PROTECTING SAID CATALYST FROM DECOMPOSITION PRODUCTS THEREOF FORMED UNDER METHANATION CONDITIONS.