TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - The fuel is a hydrocarbon or an alcohol. It is methane, ethane, propane, butane. It is methanol or ethanol. Mixtures may be employed.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Process: The membrane reactor operates at 0.5-200 bar, with the composite membrane at over 300 degrees C. Operation is continuous. During reforming, the rate of hydrogen formation corresponds with the rate of hydrogen passage through the membrane. The surface of the non-porous layer includes additional catalysts of differing composition. Catalyst centers have dimensions of 20 nm to 1 micron, preferably 50-150 nm. Their lateral spacing is 0.1-50 micron. The metallic layer is 0.1-1000 micron thick, preferably less than 5 micron. The membrane is obtained by hydrolysis of a metal compound, use of an acid to form a dispersion, mixing with a nanocrystalline and/or crystalline metal oxide, applying the mixture as a thin layer to a perforated substrate and solidifying at 100 degrees C. The stages may be repeated to form a multilayer. The substrate thickness is 10-1000, preferably 20-200 microns. Between it and the metal layer, a hydrogen-permeable bonding agent layer is included. The composite membrane is elastic, with a maximum bending radius of 1-100 mm, without fissuring the stressed metallic layer. It is asymmetrical.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - METALLURGY - Preferred Metal Layer: The metallic layer is palladium or its alloy e.g. with silver or copper. The mass composition is preferably Pd 75-80%; copper or silver 15-25%. Additionally, silver, gold, copper, cobalt, nickel, ruthenium, rhodium, zinc, aluminum, titanium, indium, vanadium, tungsten, rhenium, molybdenum and/or rare earth metals are included. The substrate is a noble metal. The metallic layer is heated, preferably indirectly by resistance heating.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CERAMICS AND GLASS - Preferred Substrate: The perforated substrate is metal, glass, carbon and/or ceramic.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Compounds: The metal oxide is titania, alumina, silica, zinc oxide or a mixture. The metal compound contains titanium, zirconium, silicon or aluminum.