Synthesis gas production and power generation with zero emissions

A method for producing and burning synthesis gas which comprises:

• pyrolytically decomposing carbonaceous material in a first pyrolysis reactor under pyrolyzing conditions in the presence of steam to produce a combustible gas which comprises hydrogen and carbon monoxide;
• introducing said combustible gas into a second reactor containing a bed of carbonaceous material therein which produces carbon monoxide gas when subjected to pyrolysis conditions in the presence of carbon dioxide;
• introducing carbon dioxide gas into said second reactor;
• establishing pyrolysis conditions in said second reactor for pyrolytic decomposition therein so that carbon dioxide gas introduced into said second reactor reacts with said carbonaceous material therein to increase the amount of carbon monoxide contained in said combustible gas;
• optionally introducing the combustible gas from the second reactor into one or more additional reactors, each additional reactor containing a bed of carbonaceous material therein which produces carbon monoxide gas when subjected to pyrolysis conditions in the presence of carbon dioxide, said carbonaceous material in said one or more additional reactors being maintained under pyrolysis conditions so that residual carbon dioxide contained in said combustible gas reacts which said carbonaceous material to further increase the amount of carbon monoxide contained in said combustible gas;
• combining said combustible gas having an increased carbon monoxide content, with carbon dioxide gas and substantially pure oxygen to produce a combustible mixture;
• burning said combustible mixture to produce heat and chemical products of combustion which comprise carbon dioxide and water;
• recovering said carbon dioxide and using a portion of said recovered carbon dioxide as a source of said carbon dioxide gas contained in said combustible mixture and as a source of said carbon dioxide gas which is introduced into said second reactor.