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6108172 
Journal Article 
Hydrocarbons from Synthesis Gas 
Speight, JG; Speight, JG 
2011 
Gulf Professional Publishing 
Boston 
Handbook of Industrial Hydrocarbon Processes 
281-323 
WOS:000323512200009 
Publisher Summary Synthesis gas (syngas) is the name given to a gas mixture that contains varying amounts of carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2) generated by the gasification of a carbonaceous material. Gasification to produce synthesis gas can proceed from just about any organic material, including biomass and plastic waste. The resulting synthesis gas burns cleanly into water vapor and carbon dioxide. Alternatively, synthesis gas may be converted efficiently to methane via the Sabatier reaction, or to a diesel-like synthetic fuel via the Fischer–Tropsch process. Synthesis gas consists primarily of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen, and has less than half the energy density of natural gas. Synthesis gas is combustible and often used as a fuel source or as an intermediate for the production of other chemicals. A modified version of steam reforming known as autothermal reforming, which is a combination of partial oxidation near the reactor inlet with conventional steam reforming further along the reactor, improves the overall reactor efficiency and increases the flexibility of the process. 
Speight, James G.