Patent ID: 7919070

Claim:
A method of producing syngas, said method comprising: (a) combining a carbon-containing feedstock, including refractory tars, with steam, thereby generating an input stream; (b) introducing said input stream into a first reaction zone under conditions effective to reduce the molecular weight of said refractory tars to an average molecular weight of 100 g/mol or less, thereby generating a first output stream including methane, wherein a temperature within said first reaction zone is at least 1700° F.; (c) introducing said first output stream into a second reaction zone under conditions effective to steam reform at least some of said methane, thereby generating a second output stream including syngas, wherein a temperature within said second reaction zone is at least 1900° F.; and (d) introducing said second output stream into a separation zone to remove at least some solid or liquid species present in said second output stream, wherein a temperature within said separation zone is less than 1600° F.