Hydrogen production

A process for the production of a hydrogen-containing gas stream comprising:

• (a) forming a gas stream at a temperature above 700.degree. C., said gas stream containing hydrogen, carbon monoxide and steam, and having a steam to dry gas molar ratio below 0.5 but a steam to carbon monoxide molar ratio of at least 0.5;
• (b) cooling said gas stream to a temperature within the range 550.degree. to 650.degree. C.;
• and
• (c) passing said cooled gas stream over an iron-free catalyst consisting essentially of a refractory support, selected from alumina and a calcium aluminate cement, and at least one material selected from platinum, palladium, and an oxide of an alkali or alkaline earth metal,
• whereby some shift reaction is effected giving a gas having a composition such that the parameter Z is below 4 bar abs., where Z is given by the formula
• Z=[CO].sup.2.[H.sub.2 ]/([CO.sub.2 ].[H.sub.2 O])
• where [CO], [H.sub.2 ], [CO.sub.2 ] and [H.sub.2 O] represent the partial pressures (in bar abs.) of carbon monoxide, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and steam respectively in the gas.