TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Method: The steam-contacting step comprises injecting steam into the molten metal using a lance (508, 518). An oxygen-containing gas is contacted with the molten metal. The contacting steam and contacting a carbonaceous material comprises injecting the carbonaceous material entrained in the steam into the molten metal. After the steam-contacting step, the metal oxide is contacted with reductant. A flux is added to the molten metal to promote the formation of a slag layer over the molten metal. Water is extracted from the gas stream. Ammonia is injected into the gas stream to react with the acid gases in the stream gas.Preferred Parameters: The molten metal is at greater than 1250 degreesC during the steam injecting step. The mass ratio of the steam to carbonaceous material is at least 0.5-:1, preferably 1:1.Preferred Compositions: The gas stream extracted from the reactor contains at least 50 vol.% hydrogen gas and not more than 15 vol.% carbon dioxide. It comprises molar H2:CO ratio of at least 1:5, preferably 1:1 to 3:1.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The reductant comprises particulate carbonaceous material, particulate coal or devolatilized coal. The carbonaceous material comprises waste, hazardous waste and petroleum coke.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The molten metal is a mixture of reactive metal and diluent metal. The reactive method is germanium, zinc, tungsten, molybdenum, indium, cobalt, and antimony, preferably iron or tin. EXAMPLE - A reactor was charged with 0.7 kg tin metal and 0.7 kg iron powder and heated to 1200 degreesC. 10 g Coal were loaded into the series of valves attached to the lance and were injected into a steam flow. After helium flow was terminated, the lance was inserted in the molten bath, and steam was injected through the lance into the molten bath. Hydrogen gas was produced for 4 minutes by the reaction of steam oxidizing iron in the bath. 15-30 Seconds after the coal was injected, into the steam line, a synthesis gas sample was taken and analyzed. Test results showed that the H2:CO molar ratio was 2.27:1.