IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/rensus/v208y2025ics1364032124007251.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Low-carbon hydrogen production by molten metal–catalyzed methane pyrolysis: Catalysts, reactor design, and process development

Author

Listed:
  • Ingale, G.U.
  • Park, D.H.
  • Yang, C.W.
  • Kwon, H.M.
  • Wi, T.G.
  • Park, Y.J.
  • Kim, S.
  • Kang, Y.B.
  • Lim, Y.I.
  • Kim, S.W.
  • Lee, U.D.

Abstract

This review focuses on low-carbon H2 production via the non-oxidative decomposition of CH4. The plasma-based methane decomposition, water splitting, nuclear thermochemical cycles, and steam methane reforming were compared with those of molten metal (MM)-based CH4 pyrolysis based on thermodynamic, techno-economic, and environmental aspects. The selection of MM catalysts and reactor materials was described for CH4 pyrolysis, followed by sustainable heat sources and reactor configurations. An electromagnetic levitation method was presented to elucidate the intrinsic reaction rates based on the bubble surface area, regardless of the reactor type and residence time. Models including the physical properties of the gas and liquid phases, reaction kinetics, and mass transfer of carbon were then discussed for the effective design of MM-based bubble column reactors (MMBCRs). Moreover, a process flow diagram integrating natural gas pre-treatment, CH4 pyrolysis reaction, H2 and carbon separations, and H2 storage was introduced for commercial-scale H2 production. As carbon byproduct is three times the H2 weight, the applications of carbon products were investigated to improve the economic feasibility of MM-based CH4 pyrolysis. Metal impurities in the carbon byproduct should be removed to increase the purity and convert carbon into a high-value-added material. This review culminates with conclusions and future perspectives on low-carbon H2 production using MMBCRs.

Suggested Citation

  • Ingale, G.U. & Park, D.H. & Yang, C.W. & Kwon, H.M. & Wi, T.G. & Park, Y.J. & Kim, S. & Kang, Y.B. & Lim, Y.I. & Kim, S.W. & Lee, U.D., 2025. "Low-carbon hydrogen production by molten metal–catalyzed methane pyrolysis: Catalysts, reactor design, and process development," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 208(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:208:y:2025:i:c:s1364032124007251
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2024.114999
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032124007251
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.rser.2024.114999?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:208:y:2025:i:c:s1364032124007251. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/600126/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.