The multiple roles for catalysis in the production of H2

This review describes a number of different, largely catalytic approaches for producing H-2 Since a major fraction of the world's H-2 is produced by catalytic processes, involving multiple steps with different types of catalysts, it is clear that catalysis plays a critical role in the production of H-2. This review is focused on the use of catalysis for the current and future production of H-2 Some background will be provided to give a perspective of the dramatic change in the supply and demand for H-2 in the past decade, followed by a review of how it is produced commercially, with a view to how multiple types of catalysis contribute to the total process for H-2 production. Steam methane reforming, the major approach for H-2 manufacture, will be a focal point for most of the discussion in pointing out the large number of catalytic steps that are used in this major technology. Finally, some alternative catalytic approaches for H-2 production will be described. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.