The multiple roles for catalysis in the production of H2 Review Article

This review describes a number of different, largely catalytic approaches for producing H2. Since a major fraction of the worldʹs H2 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 H2. This review is focused on the use of catalysis for the current and future production of H2. Some background will be provided to give a perspective of the dramatic change in the supply and demand for H2 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 H2 production. Steam methane reforming, the major approach for H2 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 H2 production will be described.