In pyrolysis process, due to absence of water and oxygen no carbon oxides are formed what eliminates need of further processing in WBS reactors. However, organic matter must be dried beforehand to water content less than 10%. Except hydrogen gas the main products of pyrolysis are char and bio-oil. Techniques utilized so as to maximize the hydrogen yield of pyrolysis are: low heating rate, long time of residence, high temperature (over 700 C), catalyst incorporation and steam reforming of produced pyrolysis liquid.
A process of great significance in industry for biomass processing and biomass based hydrogen production is gasification. It is a thermochemical conversion of solid carbon based fuel into gaseous fuel. Already discussed here steam reforming and pyrolysis are subparts of the entire gasification process. Gasification takes place in presence of oxygen and reforming agent (can be: air, oxygen, steam, carbon dioxide), most often superheated steam. Equivalence ratio of air is <1\cite{Abuadala_2012} so partial oxidation of gases takes place in order to maintain temperature necessary for the process. Main products of gasification are: syngas (H2 + CO), methane, tar, ash and other gases. In order to maximize hydrogen yield from gasification process high temperature superheated steam (900C) is used as reforming agent. WGS reactors are further employed to increase the concentration of hydrogen in final product. An example of carbon gasification reaction is given with the formula: