Microwave-Assisted Steam Reforming in an Ultracompact Catalytic Reactor

In the last years the decarbonization of industrial chemical processes has become necessary and in this sense the use of H2 as an energy vector is strategic. Electrified hydrogen production may allow to avoid energy-related emissions. In this work, the use of microwaves as energy source for the methane steam reforming (MSR) process is proposed. Therefore, starting from commercial silicon carbide monoliths, two Ni/Ceria/Alumina structured catalysts able to absorb microwaves (with two different Ni loadings) were prepared, characterized, and tested at a gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) of 3300 h-1 by means of a specifically set-up laboratory plant. The results showed that the catalyst with the higher Ni loading (15wt% with respect to Ceria and alumina) approached the thermodynamic equilibrium values for both methane conversion and hydrogen yield at about 780°C. In terms of energy efficiency, both the systems showed an average value of 50%. These results evidenced that an effective and feasible process intensification is possible with this innovative system, mainly for a distributed hydrogen production.