	US 7,517,374 B2
	Process for the preparation of a hydrogen-rich stream
Poul Erik Højlund Nielsen, Fredensborg (Denmark); John Bøgild Hansen, Copenhagen Ø (Denmark); and Niels Christian Schiødt, Brønshøj (Denmark)
Assigned to Haldor Topsoe A/S, Lyngby (Denmark)
Appl. No. 10/548,951 PCT Filed Mar. 25, 2004, PCT No. PCT/EP2004/003160 § 371(c)(1), (2), (4) Date Sep. 15, 2005, PCT Pub. No. WO2004/087566, PCT Pub. Date Oct. 14, 2004.
Claims priority of application No. 2003 00499 (DK), filed on Apr. 01, 2003; and application No. 2003 00532 (DK), filed on Apr. 07, 2003.
Prior Publication US 2006/0168888 A1, Aug. 03, 2006
Int. Cl. C01B 3/24 (2006.01); C01B 3/36 (2006.01); C01B 3/32 (2006.01); C01B 3/26 (2006.01)

U.S. Cl. 48—198.3 [48/197 R; 48/198.7; 423/648.1; 423/650; 423/651]

8 Claims

1. A process for the preparation of a hydrogen-rich stream comprising:

steam reforming of a hydrocarbon feed stock to obtain a process gas containing carbon monoxide, hydrogen and water; and

contacting the process gas in presence of an amount of dimethyl ether or a dimethyl ether/methanol mixture in a subsequent at least one shift step in the presence of an ether hydration catalyst selected from the group consisting of solid acids and a methanol decomposition catalyst consisting of copper, zinc and aluminum and/or chromium.