steam reforming

British  

noun

1. chem a process in which methane from natural gas is heated, with steam, usually with a catalyst, to produce a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen used in organic synthesis and as a fuel

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Example Sentences

Today, most commercial syngas is made by steam reforming of methane, a process that requires large amounts of water and heat and that also produces carbon dioxide.

From Science Daily

For the foreseeable future, most hydrogen fuel will very likely be made from natural gas through an energy-intensive and polluting method called the steam reforming process, which uses steam, high heat and pressure to break down the methane into hydrogen and carbon dioxide.

From New York Times

But that still doesn’t account for the natural gas that generates the hydrogen, powers the steam reforming process and runs the CO2 capture.

From New York Times

A key process for producing hydrogen in this way, known as steam reforming, also emits troublesome carbon dioxide and is expensive.

From BBC

Government data show that the United States currently produces about 10 million metric tons of hydrogen per year, 95% of which is via energy-intensive steam reforming which takes hydrogen out of natural gas but produces carbon as waste.

From Reuters