In a representative gasification experiment involving charcoal, the coal sample underwent heating to an isothermal plateau under a nitrogen atmosphere at 50 bar pressure using a High Pressure TGA Thermobalance. The mass signal illustrates the release of volatile components between 20 and 40 minutes. Following the introduction of water vapor, the coal underwent gasification, nearly entirely consumed after 150 minutes. This resulted in the production of H2, CO, CH3OH, and other reactive gases, as indicated by the red mass loss curve.

The entire process can be elucidated as follows: Carbon undergoes a reaction with water vapor, yielding a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The produced carbon monoxide can then react with a second water molecule, forming carbon dioxide and additional hydrogen. Eventually, the resulting hydrogen can participate in the formation of methane and other hydrocarbons from carbon monoxide.