Steam reforming hydrogen separation

Today, different processes (steam reforming, autothermal reforming, partial oxidation, gasification) are available and commercially mature for hydrogen production from natural gas or coal. These processes would have to be combined with technologies for C02 capture and storage (CCS), to keep the emissions profile low. A power plant that combines electricity and hydrogen production can be more efficient than retrofitted C02 separation systems for conventional power plants. 

Catalytic membrane reactors are not yet commercial. In fact, this is not surprising. When catalysis is coupled with separation in one vessel, compared to separate pieces of equipment, degrees of freedom are lost. The MECR is in that respect more promising for the short term. Examples are the dehydrogenation of alkanes in order to shift the equilibrium and the methane steam reforming for hydrogen production (29,30). An enzyme-based example is the hydrolysis of fats described in the following. 

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