The oxygen blown integrated gasification combined cycle starts out by gasifying (partially combusting) coal with pure O₂ to produce CO and H₂ (syngas). This syngas (itself a valuable chemical feedstock) is then cleaned up (removing sulphur and other contaminants), before steam is added and the water-gas shift reaction is effected:

H₂O + CO = H₂ + CO₂

to produce more H₂ and transform the CO to CO₂. The H₂ and CO₂ mixture is then separated, perhaps by using a membrane which is permeable only to H₂. The CO₂ is sequestered and the H₂ is burned in a gas turbine or used in a fuel cell.

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