NOVELTY - Apparatus comprises: (a) a mixer (2) configured to receive a gas stream and water and to generate a gas/water mixture; (b) a hydrate reactor configured to receive the gas/water mixture, to generate a slurry comprising methane hydrate, and to exhaust a methane-depleted gas stream comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen; and (c) a separator configured to receive the slurry, to dissociate the methane from the methane hydrate, and to exhaust methane.    USE - The apparatus is useful for separating and recovering methane from gas stream. The process is useful for: separating and recovering carbon monoxide and hydrogen from a gas stream; and converting carbonaceous feedstock into many gaseous products (all claimed). The apparatus is useful in integrated gasification process for converting carbonaceous feedstocks, such as petroleum coke, liquid petroleum residue and/or coal to combustible gases, such as methane, which is useful as a fuel.    ADVANTAGE - The apparatus provides energy-efficient separation of methane from other gaseous materials in a gas stream, thus yielding a highly pure stream of methane gas. The process reduces raw material costs and minimizes environmental impact of a catalytic gasification process.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Apparatus comprises: (a) a mixer (2) configured to receive a gas stream and water and to generate a gas/water mixture, where the gas stream comprises methane, carbon monoxide and hydrogen; (b) a hydrate reactor configured to receive the gas/water mixture, to generate a slurry comprising methane hydrate, and to exhaust a methane-depleted gas stream comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen, where the hydrate reactor comprises a reaction chamber, a gas/water mixture inlet for supplying the gas/water mixture to the reaction chamber, and the gas/water mixture inlet in communication with the mixer, a gas outlet for exhausting a methane-depleted gas stream from the reaction chamber, a slurry outlet for removing a slurry from the reaction chamber, and a chiller (4) for cooling the reaction chamber; and (c) a separator configured to receive the slurry, to dissociate the methane from the methane hydrate, and to exhaust methane, where the separator comprises a separation chamber, a slurry inlet for supplying the slurry into the separation chamber the slurry inlet in communication with the hydrate reactor, a methane gas outlet for exhausting methane from the separation chamber, a water outlet for removing water from the chamber, and a heater for heating the separation chamber. INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for:    (1) a process for separating and recovering methane from a gas stream, comprising: (a1) providing a gas stream comprising methane, carbon monoxide and hydrogen; (b1) contacting the gas stream with water under suitable temperature and pressure to form a methane-depleted gas stream and a slurry comprising methane hydrate; (c1) recovering the slurry; (d1) heating the slurry under conditions sufficient to dissociate the methane from the methane hydrate; and (e1) recovering the methane under a pressure of 5-80 atm;    (2) a process for converting a carbonaceous composition into many gaseous products contained in a gas stream and separating methane from the gas stream, comprising: supplying a carbonaceous composition to a gasification reactor; reacting the carbonaceous composition in the gasification reactor in the presence of steam and under suitable temperature and pressure to form a gas stream comprising methane and at least one or more of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia and other higher hydrocarbons; and separating and recovering methane from the gas stream;    (3) a process for separating and recovering carbon monoxide and hydrogen from a gas stream, comprising: providing a gas stream comprising methane, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen; contacting the gas stream with water under suitable temperature and pressure to form a slurry comprising methane hydrate, and a methane-depleted gas stream comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen; and recovering the methane-depleted gas stream; and    (4) a continuous process for converting a carbonaceous feedstock into many gaseous products, comprising: supplying a carbonaceous feedstock to a gasifying reactor; reacting the carbonaceous feedstock in the gasifying reactor in the presence of steam and a gasification catalyst and under suitable temperature and pressure to form a first gas stream comprising the gaseous products; at least partially separating the gaseous products to produce a second gas stream comprising methane, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen; separating and recovering a methane-depleted gas stream comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen; and recycling at least a portion of the carbon monoxide and hydrogen from the methane-depleted gas stream to the gasifying reactor.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a block diagram of a methane separation process.    Water storage (1)    Mixer (2)    Pump (3)    Chiller (4)    Feed gas. (5)