26
3 Fossil Hydrocarbon Decarbonization and Nanotechnology
and oils. The reaction can be given by the following reactions:
CH 4 + 1
2O 2 → CO + 2H 2 + energy.
CH 4 + O 2 → CO 2 + 2H 2 + energy.
Steam iron process is also used for the production of hydrogen from a large
range of hydrocarbon. Even coal can be used as the raw material for hydrogen
generation by using this process. Reduction–oxidation regenerative system is used
for the generation of ultrapure hydrogen with different catalysts. Modified form
of steam iron process also has fuel cell applications. This method requires high
temperature and involves several steps.
Photocatalytic activation of hydrocarbons also results in the generation of H 2 . The
specific photocatalysts activate the hydrocarbon molecule by absorbing the near-UV
photons of the solar spectrum. The photocatalytic activation involves photoinduced
charge transfer in photoactive catalysts, which lead to the formation of active electrondeficient entities which extract the proton from hydrocarbon molecule leading to the
generation of hydrogen molecule and other by-products.
Thermal decomposition is another process in which hydrocarbons are decomposed
into hydrogen and carbon. Pyrolysis temperature of ~ 400 °C is required for thermal
decomposition, and this much high temperature is achieved from fuel–air flame
while the air being cut off. At these conditions, the hydrocarbons get pyrolyzed into
hydrogen and carbon-black particles, as thermal decomposition is a cyclic process
and was formally employed for the production of hydrogen. The major problem in
production of hydrogen from the fossils fuels is the emission of CO 2 . The concentration of CO 2 would increase gradually in the earth atmosphere due to increased energy
demands. Nevertheless, of the procedure employed for the generation of hydrogen
from hydrocarbons all the carbon (present in the hydrocarbon) will be converted
into oxides of the carbon and mostly CO 2 . This is the major challenge toward using
hydrocarbons for the production of sustainable hydrogen from hydrocarbons [2].
The decarbonization of fossil hydrocarbons cannot be discussed without the
production of CO 2 . This chapter is focused on the use of nanotechnology in the
hydrogen generation from hydrocarbons and CO 2 reduction, which is produced
during the process of decarbonization of fossil fuels. A simplified scheme of hydrogen
generation from fossil hydrocarbons is shown in Fig. 3.1: Simplified scheme of
hydrogen generation from fossil hydrocarbons.
3.2 Steam Reforming
Several studies have reported the use of nanotechnology in steam reforming of the
hydrocarbons and their derivatives. In a study, Ni/Cu/Al 2 O 3 nanocatalysts were
employed for the steam reforming of natural gas for the production of hydrogen.
3 Fossil Hydrocarbon Decarbonization and Nanotechnology
and oils. The reaction can be given by the following reactions:
CH 4 + 1
2O 2 → CO + 2H 2 + energy.
CH 4 + O 2 → CO 2 + 2H 2 + energy.
Steam iron process is also used for the production of hydrogen from a large
range of hydrocarbon. Even coal can be used as the raw material for hydrogen
generation by using this process. Reduction–oxidation regenerative system is used
for the generation of ultrapure hydrogen with different catalysts. Modified form
of steam iron process also has fuel cell applications. This method requires high
temperature and involves several steps.
Photocatalytic activation of hydrocarbons also results in the generation of H 2 . The
specific photocatalysts activate the hydrocarbon molecule by absorbing the near-UV
photons of the solar spectrum. The photocatalytic activation involves photoinduced
charge transfer in photoactive catalysts, which lead to the formation of active electrondeficient entities which extract the proton from hydrocarbon molecule leading to the
generation of hydrogen molecule and other by-products.
Thermal decomposition is another process in which hydrocarbons are decomposed
into hydrogen and carbon. Pyrolysis temperature of ~ 400 °C is required for thermal
decomposition, and this much high temperature is achieved from fuel–air flame
while the air being cut off. At these conditions, the hydrocarbons get pyrolyzed into
hydrogen and carbon-black particles, as thermal decomposition is a cyclic process
and was formally employed for the production of hydrogen. The major problem in
production of hydrogen from the fossils fuels is the emission of CO 2 . The concentration of CO 2 would increase gradually in the earth atmosphere due to increased energy
demands. Nevertheless, of the procedure employed for the generation of hydrogen
from hydrocarbons all the carbon (present in the hydrocarbon) will be converted
into oxides of the carbon and mostly CO 2 . This is the major challenge toward using
hydrocarbons for the production of sustainable hydrogen from hydrocarbons [2].
The decarbonization of fossil hydrocarbons cannot be discussed without the
production of CO 2 . This chapter is focused on the use of nanotechnology in the
hydrogen generation from hydrocarbons and CO 2 reduction, which is produced
during the process of decarbonization of fossil fuels. A simplified scheme of hydrogen
generation from fossil hydrocarbons is shown in Fig. 3.1: Simplified scheme of
hydrogen generation from fossil hydrocarbons.
3.2 Steam Reforming
Several studies have reported the use of nanotechnology in steam reforming of the
hydrocarbons and their derivatives. In a study, Ni/Cu/Al 2 O 3 nanocatalysts were
employed for the steam reforming of natural gas for the production of hydrogen.