Patent ID: 7438889

Claim:
A process for producing hydrogen in a reactor comprising: reacting at least one hydrocarbon and steam in the presence of a complex metal oxide and a steam-hydrocarbon reforming catalyst in a production step under reaction conditions sufficient to form hydrogen and a spent complex metal oxide comprising a metal carbonate, and reacting the spent complex metal oxide with an oxygen source gas in a regeneration step under reaction conditions sufficient to regenerate the complex metal oxide and to yield carbon dioxide, wherein the complex metal oxide is represented by the formula (A′ x 1 Ca x 2 Mg x 3 ) x(B′ y 1 Mn y 2 Fe y 3 ) y O n where A′ represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Sr, Ba, a Group 1 element, and an element of the Lanthanide series according to the IUPAC Periodic Table of the Elements; B′ represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Cu, Ni, Co, Cr, and V; 0≦x 1 ≦1, 0≦x 2 ≦1, 0≦x 3 ≦1 wherein x 1 +x 2 +x 3 =x; 0≦y 1 ≦1, 0≦y 2 ≦1, 0≦y 3 ≦1 wherein y 1 +y 2 +y 3 =y; 1≦x≦10; and 1≦y≦10; and n represents a value such that the complex metal oxide is rendered electrically neutral.