Abstract:
A method of reforming mixtures of hydrocarbons, preferably methane, and carbon dioxide, wherein the method comprises at least two stages. In a first stage, a reactant gas is contacted with a precious metal catalyst and converted to a first product gas (also referred to hereinafter as product gas 1). In a second stage, the first product gas obtained in the first stage is contacted with a non-precious metal catalyst and converted to a second product gas (also referred to hereinafter as product gas 2). The process can also include adding gases to the product gas 1 obtained in the first stage. The practice of the process can minimize the formation of coke on the catalyst in an efficient manner. The combination of a first stage with a precious metal catalyst and at least one second stage with non-precious metal catalyst allows considerable amounts of costly precious metals to be saved.