Methane as a Hydrogen Carrier

Technical Advantages of Biomass-Methane Hybrid Methanol System

"Adjustment of the hydrogen-carbon monoxide ratio through the use of the water-gas reaction lowers the mass conversion efficiency of the overall process. Re-forming of methane produces a synthesis gas rich in hydrogen. Combination of these two synthesis gas streams in the proper proportion would allow adjustment of the hydrogen-carbon monoxide ration with out shift conversion while maximizing the amount of carbon available for conversion to methanol. Depending on the gasification process, this methane-hybrid system can increase methanol outputs per unit biomass feedstock to about two to five times the level achievable by biomass gasification alone. In addition, the methane-hybrid methanol system, through elimination of the shift conversion, would reduce the CO2 scrubbing requirements". (SERI)

Paul Sabatier: Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1912 for the Method of Direct Hydrogenation by Catalysts