Processes for hydrogen production and catalysts for use therein

This invention describes a process for producing hydrogen comprising: introducing a feedstream comprising a bio-based feedstock and water into a reformer and supplying heat to the reformer; contacting the feedstream with a steam reforming catalyst disposed within the reformer to form a reformate comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide; recovering the reformate from the reformer; contacting the reformate with steam in the presence of a water-gas shift catalyst disposed within a water-gas shift reaction zone to form a water-gas shift product stream comprising hydrogen, and the water-gas shift product stream comprises hydrogen in a greater quantity than in the reformate; heating the feedstream by heat exchange contact of the feedstream with a product stream selected from the reformate, the water-gas shift product stream or combinations thereof to transfer heat from the product stream to the feedstream prior to introducing the feedstream into the reformer.