Presentation and background
Production of synthesis gas by steam reforming

In the manufacture of syngas, C and/or C_nH_m are converted into CO, CO₂ , H₂ with the occasional addition of N₂ , oxygen being supplied either directly, or by steam or air. In terms of syngas utilization, a distinction is essentially made between:

• Purified H₂ which is the essential component of all hydrogenation reactions ;

• the CO + CO₂ + H₂ mixture which is at the origin of methanol synthesis;

• CO alone, which leads to carbonylation reactions;

• the CO + H₂ mixture which is the basis of oxo and Fischer-Tropsch (Gas-to-Liquid ) syntheses ;

• H₂ and N₂, stripped of all oxygenated compounds, which enable the synthesis of ammonia, the essential base for nitric acid chemistry and nitrogen fertilizers.

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