Hydrogen production reactions from carbon feedstocks:: Fossils fuels and biomass

It is projected that hydrogen will be produced in more quantity in the coming years as fossil fuel becomes more unpopular option. The most widely used and most economical process to make hydrogen is steam methane re-forming (SMR). It involves many different catalytic steps and gives off carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide as greenhouse gas primarily. Another is membrane reactor (MR) re-forming technology. It will bring economic small-scale hydrogen production combined with inexpensive CO2 capture and avoid a special hydrogen facility. Another is through steam reforming methods to alternative renewable materials that use plant crops, agricultural residues, woody biomass and others. In the production of hydrogen either pure or as reactant, steam re-forming of hydrogen feedstocks has been the preferred method method for many decades. Another method is through partial oxidation processes which avoid the large amount of energy as used in steam systems. Another is the selective production of H2 by partial oxidation which is th extraction of hydrogen from methanol. Yet another method is through autothermal reforming which does not need heat to the reactor over and above the amount provided in the preheating of the reactants. Gasification of coal and heavy hydrocarbons is about high temperatures and moderate pressures of a source of carbon. There are also carbon dioxide-free reaction including methane decomposition and methane aromatization. There are also carbon dioxide neutral alternatives such as biomass conversion, re-forming of biomass-derived products as well as production from CO and CO removal reactions.