Recent Advances in Bimetallic Catalysts for Methane Steam Reforming in Hydrogen Production: Current Trends, Challenges, and Future Prospects

The primary method for hydrogen production is through methane steam reforming (MSR) of natural gas. This process involves the reaction between methane and steam to create a synthesis gas (syn gas). Following this, a step referred to as water-gas shift (WGS) is employed. During the WGS process, the hydrogen content is enhanced as H₂O reacts with CO at lower temperatures. Subsequently, hydrogen is extracted from the gas using pressure swing adsorption (PSA). The remaining off-gas is combusted with additional natural gas to generate the heat necessary for MSR. It is imperative to emphasize the significance of synthesizing steam reforming catalysts with high activity and durability to enable large-scale hydrogen production. Recent advancements in bimetallic catalysts for steam reforming have led to enhanced performance in steam methane reforming. This improvement is attributed to the synergistic interaction between two metals in the catalyst.

Abstract

As energy demand continues to rise and the global population steadily grows, there is a growing interest in exploring alternative, clean, and renewable energy sources. The search for alternatives, such as green hydrogen, as both a fuel and an industrial feedstock, is intensifying. Methane steam reforming (MSR) has long been considered a primary method for hydrogen production, despite its numerous advantages, the activity and stability of the conventional Ni catalysts are major concerns due to carbon formation and metal sintering at high temperatures, posing significant drawbacks to the process. In recent years, significant attention has been given to bimetallic catalysts as a potential solution to overcome the challenges associated with methane steam reforming. Thus, this review focuses on the recent advancements in bimetallic catalysts for hydrogen production through methane steam reforming. The review explores various aspects including reactor type, catalyst selection, and the impact of different operating parameters such as reaction temperature, pressure, feed composition, reactor configuration, and feed and sweep gas flow rates. The analysis and discussion revolve around key performance indicators such as methane conversion, hydrogen recovery, and hydrogen yield.

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