8. Conclusions

Hydrogen is widely used in industry and refining for chemical needs. Its requirements amount to 50 to 60 MT/year. Its use as an energy source remains marginal. It is prepared industrially by steam reforming of natural gas or naphtha, and to a lesser extent by water electrolysis. A number of alternative processes are under study, but have not yet been fully industrialized.

Steam reforming is a catalytic process in which hydrocarbons react with steam. The reaction is highly endothermic and must be carried out at high temperature. It produces carbon oxides and hydrogen. To optimize hydrogen production, all the CO is converted to CO ₂ by a gas-to-water displacement reaction (CO + H ₂ O → CO ₂ + H ₂ ...