Research Seminar with Prof Laurent Fulcheri, France

Methane pyrolysis: The third way for low CO₂ hydrogen production.

In the context of global warming and transition towards a less-carbonized energy, hydrogen will play a key role in coming decades. Unfortunately, the most current method for H₂ production, often referred as ‘grey H₂’, steam methane reforming (SMR) is responsible, on average, for 11 tonne CO_2eq per tonne of H₂.

Water electrolysis is reckoned an ideal long-term option for production of decarbonized H₂ (‘green H₂’)’ assuming the use of low-carbon electricity. However the water splitting reaction is significantly energy-intensive because it necessitates 285 kJ per mole (Eq. 1) which corresponds to ~ 40 kWh kgH₂ ^-1. This makes large-scale development of this technology challenging at short-to-middle term due to high production costs of ~ 4-6 US$, respectively, for short- and middle-term.

Eq. 1) H₂O → H₂ + ½ O₂      285 kJ mole^-1

A third-way that is today making a come-back, often called as ‘blue H₂’ is based on hightemperature natural gas pyrolysis (Eq. 2) for production of H₂ and solid-carbon.

Eq. 2) CH₄ → C + 2 H₂      75 kJ/Mole

The main advantage of this approach is that is thermodynamically less energy intensive than water splitting since it necessitates around 7 x times less energy per mass (or mole) of H₂ produced than water splitting. Another advantage is that it allows co-production of two valuable products: solid (nanostructured) carbon, and; H₂.

Research on methane pyrolysis by thermal plasma has been carried out at MINES-ParisTech for > 25 year¹. The technology is now mature and a first-commercial plant for the co-production of H₂ and carbon black is under construction in the USA (MONOLITH Materials).

In this seminar the state-of-the-art of research and technology in this field will be critically assessed and the potential of this technology at short-, middle- and long-term will be briefly discussed.

1. Fulcheri, L & Schwob, Y. 1995. From methane to hydrogen, carbon black and water. Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 20 (3), 197-202. 

About the speaker