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Steam reforming in synthesis gas production

Steam methane reforming (SMR) is an industrial process for producing synthesis gas, a mixture of H₂ and CO, from hydrocarbons such as natural gas. To produce hydrogen, the hydrogen content in the synthesis gas is increased by a high-temperature shift (HTS: CO + H₂O → > CO + H₂). The product gas is then purified in most cases using a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) process. If PSA is not feasible, further H₂ enrichment is also possible through a downstream low-temperature shift (LTS).

Relevance for hydrogen production
Steam reforming of natural gas is currently the most important process for hydrogen production. It is carried out in gas-fired furnaces at relatively high temperatures between 700 and 1000°C using nickel catalysts, such as ReforMax® 330. When steam reforming naphtha as a feedstream, the ReforMax® 330 requires the pre-reforming catalyst ReforMax® 100 to be installed upstream of the ReforMax® 330 for reforming the higher hydrocarbons. Additionally, ReforMax® 330 can also be used in the autothermal reforming of natural gas.