The invention is directed to a process for the preparation of an
oxygen carrier for a chemical looping process comprising: (a) providing a material A comprising at least one first
transition metal and / or an
oxide of the at least one first
transition metal, wherein the at least one first
transition metal is selected from one or more of
chemical element groups 6-11 of the Periodic
System, wherein the at least one first transition
metal and / or
oxide of at least one first transition
metal is optionally supported on one or more
support materials, (b) subjecting material A to a reaction with H2 to cause at least partial reduction of the at least one first transition
metal and / or at least one first transition metal
oxide to form a reduced material B, (c) treating reduced material B with a solution of a salt of at least one second transition metal, wherein the at least one second transition metal is selected such that it has a standard
reduction potential that is larger than a standard
reduction potential of the first transition metal, wherein a portion of the at least one first transition metal in the reduced material B is replaced by the at least one second transition metal, wherein a
molar ratio of the at least one first transition metal with respect to the at least one second transition metal in the reduced material B ranges between 2:1 and 100:1, and (d) washing and optionally
drying the thus obtained
oxygen carrier. The invention also relates to an
oxygen carrier obtained with this method and to a method for regeneration of the oxygen carrier using steam.