It has been demonstrated both thermodynamically and experimentally that fuel-cell grade hydrogen can be produced by a one-step sorption enhanced water gas shift (SEWGS) process at about 500 degrees C, where the water gas shift (WGS) catalyst and the CO2 sorbent are highly integrated. A synthetic CaO-based mixed oxide sorbent was also assessed, which showed a good CO2 capture capacity and stability in the cyclic operation of the SEWGS reaction. Catalysts play a significant role in CO conversion via WGS, methanation and methane steam reforming reactions. A Pd promoted Ni-Co catalyst (1%Pd/20%Ni-20%Co) derived from hydrotalcite-like material (HT) showed a high activity for WGS and methane steam reforming. The methanation activity was further reduced on 30%Ni-10%Co. There exists an optimum temperature (500 degrees C) for hydrogen production by the SEWGS process, where it is kinetically limited by the WGS reaction at lower temperatures (425-475 degrees C) and it is thermodynamically unfavorable at higher temperatures (475-550 degrees C). The challenges for hydrogen production by SEWGS at high CO pressures were also demonstrated, where CO pressure has shown a negative influence on WGS activity. An induction period was observed, which can be reduced by improving catalyst activity and by adding hydrogen to the reactant mixture. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.