The present invention provides a method for sequential
pyrolysis and
carbon deposition to produce a composite carbonaceous product, the method comprising: a
pyrolysis process step, which comprises pyrolyzing a pyrolyzable organic feed in a first
reaction zone at a
pyrolysis temperature in the presence of a non-oxidizing gas to produce hot
char and pyrolysis gas, wherein the pyrolysis gas and the non-oxidizing gas are combined to form a gas mixture; discharging the gas mixture from the first
reaction zone to a
combustion zone, and combusting at least a portion of the pyrolysis gas in the
combustion zone, wherein the heat generated by the
combustion of the pyrolysis gas is transferred from the combustion zone to the first
reaction zone to provide at least a portion of the pyrolysis heat; and a
decomposition process step, which comprises directly contacting a
hydrocarbon-rich organic gas with the hot
char after the hot
char is produced in the pyrolysis process step, wherein the
hydrocarbon-rich organic gas is catalytically decomposed on the hot char at a
decomposition temperature higher than the pyrolysis temperature, thereby producing a gaseous
decomposition product and a composite carbonaceous material, the gaseous decomposition product comprising
hydrogen, and the composite carbonaceous material comprising char having carbon deposits thereon.