State-of-the-art catalysts for CH4 steam reforming at low temperature

The methane steam reforming (MSR) technology is the oldest and the most vital route to convert CH4 into H2. The conventional process usually operates in a high temperature range of 973–1173 K due to the highly endothermic nature of the reforming reaction. Necessity to increase the energy efficiency leads to the development of processes operating at low temperature and of highly active and coke resistant catalysts. An active catalyst which can provide high reforming reaction rates at low temperature (<823 K) is therefore required. This work summarizes the latest developments on catalysts for methane steam reforming at low reaction temperature. Three major groups of materials are considered, nickel-based, noble metal-based and bimetallic catalysts. In each section the strategies proposed by several authors to enhance the performance of catalysts are discussed. An overview of the kinetic models developed for the description of the catalytic performance is also included.