NOVELTY - Conversion of carbon-based fuel to hydrogen-rich product gas, comprises converting carbon-based fuel to intermediate gas product by contacting fuel with conversion catalyst; and contacting intermediate gas product with absorbent material to absorb carbon dioxide and form a hydrogen-rich gas, the absorbent material having a theoretical absorption capacity for carbon dioxide.    USE - For conversion of a carbon-based fuel to H2-rich product gas (claimed).    ADVANTAGE - The method can produce a H2 product gas having a high H2 content and a low level of carbon oxides.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Conversion of a carbon-based fuel to hydrogen-rich (H2-rich) product gas, comprises:    (1) providing a carbon-based fuel;    (2) converting the fuel to an intermediate gas product by contacting the fuel with a first conversion catalyst;    (3) contacting the intermediate gas product with an absorbent material to absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) and form a H2-rich gas, the absorbent material having a theoretical absorption capacity for CO2;    (4) extracting the H2-rich gas from the contacting step;    (5) regenerating the absorbent; and    (6) repeating the steps at least 10 times, where the absorbent material retains at least 50 % of the theoretical absorption capacity after each of the repeating steps.    INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are also included for:    (a) a method for absorption enhanced reforming of a carbon-based fuel, comprising providing a carbon-based fuel; contacting the fuel with a first conversion catalysts to catalyze the formation of an intermediate gas product; contacting the intermediate gas product with a pelletized absorbent compound having a first bulk density, where the absorbent is converted to a carbonized absorbent having a second bulk density; and regenerating the carbonized absorbent to form a regenerated absorbent having a third bulk density, where the third bulk density is greater than the first bulk density;    (b) a steam-reforming catalyst, comprising a particulate support structure; and a metal dispersed on the support structure, where the catalyst achieves 90% of the theoretical thermodynamic conversion of methane to hydrogen at 600degreesC, a water:carbon ration of 3:1 and a gas hour space velocity (GHSV) of 5000/hour in the absence of an absorbent for CO2;    (c) a particulate composite material, comprising an absorbent phase adapted to absorb CO2; and a catalyst phase from reforming catalyst phase and a water-gas shift catalyst phase;    (d) a method for fabrication of a supported reforming catalyst particles, comprising forming a precursor solution comprising a metal precursor and an alumina precursor; atomizing the precursor solution to form precursor droplets; and heating the precursor droplets to convert at least the metal precursor to metal-containing clusters dispersed on the aluminum;    (e) a method for the fabrication of composite particle including an absorbent phase and a catalyst phase comprising, forming a precursor solution comprising a liquid, a precursor to an absorbent phase, and a precursor to a catalysts phase; atomizing the precursor solution to form precursor droplets; and heating the precursor droplets to remove the liquid and form composite particles; and    (f) a pellet adapted for absorption enhanced reforming of a carbon-based fuel, comprising a particulate absorbent material; and a particulate catalyst material.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure schematically illustrates a spray pyrolysis method for the fabrication of particles.