Reforming of Hydrocarbons and Alcohols

There are several methods for reforming hydrocarbons to produce H2, including partial oxidation, steam reforming, and autothermal reforming. We can use CH4 as an example to illustrate the processes. 

Under a suitable condition and using the right catalysts, CH4 can go through the following chemical reaction with oxygen  

This is a partial oxidation process, where each CH4 molecule gives off two H2 molecules and one CO molecule. The condition needs to be controlled to minimize the reaction between O, and H, or CO that is produced. This is an exothermal reaction, with 247 kJ of heat being released per mole of CH4 in the process. Once the reaction starts, it can be sustained without input of additional heat. 

In a steam reforming process, CH4 reacts with steam through the following reaction  

In order to achieve a thermal balance, the partial oxidation and the steam reforming can be combined, and the process is called auto-thermal reforming. If 

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Finally, specific design and mechanical configurations of Pd-based manbrane reactors as well as their main applications for producing hydrogen through dehydrogenation reactions such as water gas shift and reforming of hydrocarbons and alcohols are described. 

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