A modified steam-methane-reformation reaction for hydrogen production

Hydrogen is mostly produced by the Steam Methane Reforming (SMR) reaction which adds many tonnes of carbon emissions to the environment for each tonne of hydrogen. A modified scheme for carbon-emission free production of hydrogen, which involves sodium hydroxide, methane and steam, has been explored here. The modification of the SMR reaction is CH4 + 2NaOH + H2O = Na2CO3 + 4H(2) The modified reaction has several advantages: it does not require catalysis, the temperature of reaction is considerably reduced and the products are industrially important. By this process, we can produce hydrogen without any carbon dioxide emission as shown in this theoretical and experimental study. The reaction has been studied in the temperature range of 873-1073 K in an open configuration for 30 min and at various methane and constant water vapor flow. It is determined that at a methane flow rate of 25 ml/min the reaction is 98% complete at 873 K. Copyright (C) 2011, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.