Shift conversion for the preparation of reducing gas

A method of treating a gasifier process gas stream, the method comprising the steps of:

• drawing off said gasifier process gas stream from a gasifier unit of an iron production system, wherein said iron production system is selected from the group consisting of melter-gasifier systems and direct reduction systems;
• separating said gasifier process gas stream into a first process gas stream and a second process stream;
• separating said first process gas stream into a first portion and a second portion;
• heating said first portion of said first process gas stream;
• flowing said heated first portion into a saturator;
• adding water to said saturator, wherein said added water is sufficient to saturate said first portion of said first process gas stream;
• injecting steam into said saturated first portion;
• heating said steam injected first portion;
• passing said heated steam injected first portion over a first bed of a CO shift converter;
• injecting said second portion of said first process gas stream into an output stream of said first bed, said injection of said second portion cooling said first bed output stream;
• passing said cooled output stream over a second bed of said CO shift converter;
• cooling an output stream of said second bed of said CO shift converter;
• separating condensed water from said second bed output stream;
• removing CO.sub.2 from said cooled second bed output stream;
• and
• combining said cooled second bed output stream with said second process gas stream.