Decarbonizing Natural Gas: A Review of Catalytic Decomposition and Carbon Formation Mechanisms

Sirui Tong, Bin Miao, Lan Zhang and Siew Hwa Chan
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Sirui Tong: School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore
Bin Miao: Energy Research Institute at NTU (ERI@N), Nanyang Technological University, 1 CleanTech Loop, Singapore 637141, Singapore
Lan Zhang: Energy Research Institute at NTU (ERI@N), Nanyang Technological University, 1 CleanTech Loop, Singapore 637141, Singapore
Siew Hwa Chan: School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 7, 1-30

Abstract: In the context of energy conservation and the reduction of CO 2 emissions, inconsistencies between the inevitable emission of CO 2 in traditional hydrogen production methods and eco-friendly targets have become more apparent over time. The catalytic decomposition of methane (CDM) is a novel technology capable of producing hydrogen without releasing CO 2 . Since hydrogen produced via CDM is neither blue nor green, the term “turquoise” is selected to describe this technology. Notably, the by-products of methane cracking are simply carbon deposits with different structures, which can offset the cost of hydrogen production cost should they be harvested. However, the encapsulation of catalysts by such carbon deposits reduces the contact area between said catalysts and methane throughout the CDM process, thereby rendering the continuous production of hydrogen impossible. This paper mainly covers the CDM reaction mechanisms of the three common metal-based catalysts (Ni, Co, Fe) from experimental and modelling approaches. The by-products of carbon modality and the key parameters that affect the carbon formation mechanisms are also discussed.

Keywords: catalyst decomposition of methane; turquoise hydrogen; energy transition; solid carbon (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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