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A process for producing hydrogen comprising reacting at least one hydrocarbon and steam in the presence of a complex metal oxide and a steam-hydrocarbon reforming catalyst in a production step under reaction conditions sufficient to form hydrogen and a spent complex metal oxide, wherein the complex

A process for producing hydrogen comprising reacting at least one hydrocarbon and steam in the presence of a complex metal oxide and a steam-hydrocarbon reforming catalyst in a production step under reaction conditions sufficient to form hydrogen and a spent complex metal oxide, wherein the complex metal oxide is represented by the formula description="In-line Formulae" end="lead"(A'xCax'Mgx")x(B'y Mny'Fey")yOn description="In-line Formulae" end="tail" where A' represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Sr, Ba, a Group 1 element, and an element of the Lanthanide series according to the IUPAC Periodic Table of the Elements; B' represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Cu, Ni, Co, Cr, and V; 0≦x≦1, 0≦x'≦1, 0≦x"≦1 wherein x+x'+x"=x; 0≦y≦1, 0≦y'≦1, 0≦y"≦1 wherein y+y'+y"=y; 1≦x≦10; 1≦y≦10; and n represents a value such that the complex metal oxide is rendered electrically neutral.

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The invention claimed is: 1. A process for producing hydrogen in a reactor comprising: reacting at least one hydrocarbon and steam in the presence of a complex metal oxide and a steam-hydrocarbon reforming catalyst in a production step under reaction conditions sufficient to form hydrogen and a spe

The invention claimed is: 1. A process for producing hydrogen in a reactor comprising: reacting at least one hydrocarbon and steam in the presence of a complex metal oxide and a steam-hydrocarbon reforming catalyst in a production step under reaction conditions sufficient to form hydrogen and a spent complex metal oxide comprising a metal carbonate, and reacting the spent complex metal oxide with an oxygen source gas in a regeneration step under reaction conditions sufficient to regenerate the complex metal oxide and to yield carbon dioxide, wherein the complex metal oxide is represented by the formula description="In-line Formulae" end="lead"(A'x1Cax2 Mgx3)x(B'y1 Mny2Fey3)y On description="In-line Formulae" end="tail" where A' represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Sr, Ba, a Group 1 element, and an element of the Lanthanide series according to the IUPAC Periodic Table of the Elements; B' represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Cu, Ni, Co, Cr, and V; 0≦x1≦1, 0≦x2≦1, 0≦x3≦1 wherein x1+x2+x3=x; 0≦y1≦1, 0≦y2≦1, 0≦y3≦1 wherein y1+y2+y3=y; 1≦x≦10; and 1≦y≦10; and n represents a value such that the complex metal oxide is rendered electrically neutral. 2. The process of claim 1 wherein x1=0, y1=0, 1≦x≦5, and 1≦y≦5. 3. The process of claim 1 further comprising purging the reactor with a purge gas to displace combustible components from the reactor and withdrawing a purge gas effluent therefrom prior to the regeneration step. 4. The process of claim 1 wherein the production step is characterized by a production temperature ranging from 400�� C. to 900�� C. and a production pressure ranging from 1 to 100 atmospheres. 5. The process of claim 1 wherein the molar ratio of steam to the at least one hydrocarbon ranges from 1:1 to 20:1. 6. The process of claim 5 wherein the molar ratio of steam to the at least one hydrocarbon is less than 150% of the theoretical amount. 7. The process of claim 1 wherein the oxygen source gas is selected from the group consisting of air, oxygen, oxygen-depleted air, and mixtures thereof. 8. The process of claim 1 wherein the regeneration step is characterized by a regeneration temperature ranging from 450�� C. to 900�� C. 9. The process of claim 1 wherein the reaction conditions of the regeneration step include a temperature ranging from less than or equal to 100�� C. higher than a reaction temperature of the production step. 10. The process of claim 1 wherein the steam-hydrocarbon reforming catalyst comprises one or more components selected from the group consisting of nickel, cobalt, ruthenium, osmium, rhodium, palladium, platinum, iridium, and oxides of these metals. 11. The process of claim 1 wherein the at least one hydrocarbon is selected from aliphatic hydrocarbons having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms. 12. The process of claim 11 wherein the at least one hydrocarbon is methane obtained as a component of natural gas. 13. The process of claim 1 wherein the complex metal oxide comprises CaMny2Fey3On wherein y2+y3=1. 14. The process of claim 13 wherein the complex metal oxide comprises CaMn0.5Fe0.5O2.5. 15. The process of claim 13 wherein the complex metal oxide comprises CaMn0.5Fe0.5O2. 16. The process of claim 1 wherein the complex metal oxide comprises CaCoO2.5. 17. The process of claim 13 wherein the complex metal oxide comprises CaMnO2.5. 18. The process of claim 1 wherein the complex metal oxide Comprises Ca1-x3Mgx3Mny 2Fey3On where 0.132+y3=1. 19. The process of claim 18 wherein the complex metal oxide comprises Mg0.5Ca0.5Mn0.5Fe0.5O2.5. 20. The process of claim 1 wherein the complex metal oxide is impregnated with at least one steam-methane reforming catalyst. 21. The process of claim 20 wherein the at least one steam-methane reforming catalyst comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of platinum and nickel. 22. The process of claim 20 wherein the at least one steam-methane reforming catalyst comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of nickel oxide and cobalt oxide. 23. The process of claim 1 wherein the complex metal oxide is mixed with at least one steam-methane reforming catalyst prior to use in the process. 24. The process of claim 12 wherein the molar ratio of steam to methane ranges from 1.3:3 to 4:1, inclusive. 25. The process of claim 12 wherein the at least one hydrocarbon is provided as a component in pre-reformed natural gas. 26. A process for producing hydrogen comprising (a) providing a reactor containing a complex metal oxide and a steam-hydrocarbon reforming catalyst, wherein the complex metal oxide is represented by the formula description="In-line Formulae" end="lead"(A'x1Cax2 Mgx3)x(B'y1 Mny2Fey3)y On description="In-line Formulae" end="tail" where A' represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Sr, Ba, a Group 1 element, and an element of the Lanthanide series according to the IUPAC Periodic Table of the Elements; B' represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Cu, Ni, Co, Cr, and V; 0≦x1≦1, 0≦x2≦1, 0≦x3≦1 wherein x1+x2+x3=x; 0≦y1≦1, 0≦y2≦1, 0≦y3≦1 wherein y1+y2+y3=y; 1≦x≦10; 1≦y≦10; and n represents a value such that the complex metal oxide is rendered electrically neutral; (b) introducing a feed gas containing at least one hydrocarbon and steam into the reactor in a production step, reacting the at least one hydrocarbon and the steam in the presence of the complex metal oxide and the steam-hydrocarbon reforming catalyst under reaction conditions sufficient to form hydrogen and a spent complex metal oxide comprising a metal carbonate, and withdrawing from the reactor a product gas comprising hydrogen; (c) terminating the introduction of the at least one hydrocarbon and purging the reactor with a purge gas to displace combustible components from the reactor and withdrawing a purge gas effluent therefrom; (d) regenerating the reactor in a regeneration step by reacting the spent complex metal oxide and an oxygen source gas under reaction conditions sufficient to regenerate the complex metal oxide and to yield carbon dioxide; (e) optionally purging the reactor with a purge gas; (f) pressurizing the reactor by introducing the feed gas containing least one hydrocarbon and steam; and (g) repeating (b) through (f) in a cyclic manner. 27. The process of claim 26 that further comprises, prior to purging the reactor, depressurizing the reactor by withdrawing a depressurization gas therefrom. 28. The process of claim 26 wherein the feed gas contains up to 20 vol % hydrogen. 29. The process of claim 28 wherein the feed gas is pre-reformed natural gas. 30. The process of claim 1 wherein the complex metal oxide comprises CaMn0.5Fe0.5O2.5 and the steam-hydrocarbon reforming catalyst comprises nickel on alumina.