A new sorption enhanced membrane reactor (SEMR), consisting of a packed adsorbentcatalyst bed (10% CuO/CeO 2 catalyst and a hydrotalcite-derived Mg-Al mixed oxide) around a tubular Pd/Ag hollow fibre membrane, has been proposed to obtain high purity H 2 and simultaneous capture of CO 2 during the water gas shift reaction. The H 2 yield at 350ºC using the SER was 80%, which is 33% higher than that obtained in the traditional FBR and 18% higher than the corresponding thermodynamic equilibrium.However, due to the high CO/H 2 O ratio (R > 1), undesirable side-reactions such as C deposition become important at temperatures higher than 400ºC. A similar behaviour was observed using the SEMR, however in this case, a high purity CO x free H 2 production was obtained. This preliminary study shows relevant data obtained using a SER and the new SEMR, which allows for the better understanding and design of multifunctional catalytic reactors.