TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Method: The methane produced in the process is allowed to recycle back through the alcohol reactor with unreacted hydrogen and carbon monoxide; except that at least some of the time, at least a portion of the unreacted hydrogen, unreacted carbon monoxide and methane is diverted to the methane reformer. The alcohol reactor is catalyzed to optimize ethanol production. A portion of the second syngas stream is diverted and used to run a turbine to generate electricity to power compressors and other electrically driven devices used in the process. The process involves introducing the feedstock and superheated stream into the feedstock reformer at 204 degrees C; adjusting the exit temperature of syngas leaving the feedstock reformer to 871 - 1204 (preferably 898 - 926) degrees C; and adjusting the contact time of the syngas within the reformer is 0.4 - 5 (preferably 1 - 3, especially 1. - 2) seconds. Reforming the feedstock involves drying the comminuted feedstock to a moisture content of 5 - 20 (preferably 9 - 15)% before being fed into the feed hopper. The stream of inert gas comprises flue gas, which is also the exhaust gas from the carbonaceous feedstock reformer into which the comminuted feedstock and stream are fed. The preparation of the catalyst further involves exposing the resulting pellets to a reducer doped inert gas at elevated temperature and pressure involves preheating an inert gas doped with a small amount of hydrogen to 200 degrees C and exposing the pellets to a reducer doped inert gas under a pressure of 172 kilopascals (KPa) (25 pounds per square inch (psig)) to 207 kilopascals (KPa) (30 pounds per square inch (psig)), causing the pellets to heat to 400 degrees C; measuring the pellet temperature and the gas temperature, and as the pellet and gas temperature fall off, introducing additional amounts of hydrogen into the gas stream, building over time to a level of hydrogen (25 - 30%); gradually increasing pressure over time until it reaches from 8273 KPa (1200 psig) to 16547 KPa (2400 (psig)); after additional hydrogen ceases to be effective in maintaining the pellet and gas temperature, gradually adding carbon monoxide to the reducer doped stream of inert gas, and continuing such addition until the pellet temperature and gas temperature continue to fall in spite of the incremental addition of carbon monoxide; and cooling the pellets and storing them under an inert gas purge until they are ready for use.Preferred Catalyst: The catalyst reactor is catalyzed by (I), which additionally contains an alkali or alkaline earth promoter.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INSTRUMENTATION AND TESTING - Preferred Apparatus: The fifth conduit extends from the gas separator back to the alcohol reactor for recycling the gas stream; and a diverter valve between the fourth and fifth conduit which is activated from time to time to divert gas from the fifth conduit to the fourth conduit. The apparatus includes a meter in the fifth conduit for measuring the methane content of the gas. The diverter valve is operably connected to the meter, and operating in response to the meter sensing a particular level of methane to divert the gas to the fourth conduit.