Systems and methods for molten media pyrolysis for the conversion of methane into hydrogen and carbon-containing particles are disclosed. The systems and methods include the introduction of seed particles into the molten media to facilitate the growth of larger, more manageable carbon-containing particles. Additionally or alternatively, the systems and methods can include increasing the residence time of carbon-containing particles within the molten media to facilitate the growth of larger carbon-containing particles.

Provided is a method for generating hydrogen at a desired rate, using a hydrogen storage material that can be stored and transported safely and inexpensively. The method according to the present invention for producing a silanol compound and hydrogen includes subjecting a hydrosilane compound and water to a reaction with each other in the presence of a solid catalyst to give a silanol compound and hydrogen. The solid catalyst includes hydroxyapatite and gold particles supported on the hydroxyapatite, where the gold particles have an average particle size of 2.5 nm or less. The reaction in the method according to the present invention for producing a silanol compound and hydrogen is preferably performed in an air atmosphere. The reaction in the method according to the present invention for producing a silanol compound and hydrogen can be performed with application of substantially no heat and no activated energy rays.

A catalyst for preparing a synthesis gas includes: a mesoporous Al.sub.2O.sub.3 support including mesopores having a pore size of about 1 nm to about 30 nm; metal nanoparticles supported in the mesopores of the mesoporous Al.sub.2O.sub.3 support wherein the metal nanoparticles have a particle size of less than or equal to about 20 nm; and a metal oxide coating layer including particles wherein the metal oxide coating layer is coated on the surface of the mesoporous Al.sub.2O.sub.3 support and includes mesopores having a pore size of about 2 nm to about 50 nm.

A novel NiFeAl-based catalytic material was developed for the conversion of methane, the main constituent of natural gas, to synthesis gas, which is a mixture of H.sub.2 and CO in a H.sub.2/CO molar ratio of 2, through partial oxidation by air at reasonable temperatures.

Here disclosed is a composite catalyst for methane cracking and a method of producing the composite catalyst. The composite catalyst includes a substrate formed of metal oxide, and one or more catalytic transition metals solubilized in the metal oxide, wherein the metal oxide includes a metal which differs from the one or more catalytic transition metals, wherein the metal oxide forms a matrix which the one or more catalytic transition metals are solubilized in to render transition metal ions from the one or more catalytic transition metals, wherein the transition metal ions under a reducing atmosphere diffuse to reside as transition metal nanoparticles at a surface of the substrate and the transition metal nanoparticles under an oxidizing atmosphere diffuse away from the surface to reside as transition metal ions in the metal oxide, and wherein the transition metal nanoparticles at the surface induce carbon from the methane cracking to deposit on the transition metal nanoparticles and have the carbon deposited grow away from the substrate.

A fuel cell system including: an electrochemical pump including a first anode, a first cathode, and a first electrolyte membrane including a proton conductive oxide, the electrochemical pump separating hydrogen from a gas containing the hydrogen, and a solid oxide fuel cell that includes a second anode, a second cathode, and a second electrolyte membrane including a solid oxide electrolyte, and that generates electricity by reacting a fuel gas and an oxidant gas with each other.

The present invention addresses to a catalyst, and the method for obtaining the same, for generating hydrogen and/or syngas. More specifically, the present invention describes a catalyst based on nickel, molybdenum and tungsten, for steam reforming processes of natural gas or other hydrocarbon streams (refinery gas, propane, butane, naphtha or any mixture thereof) that presents high resistance to deactivation by coke deposition. According to the present invention, the catalyst has NiMoW as its active phase, in bulk form and/or supported on an alumina oxide and other high surface area oxide supports, and may also contain other promoters. Furthermore, the present invention teaches the production of a catalyst whose active phase of NiMoW has high activity for hydrocarbon steam reforming reaction.

Systems and methods are provided for using oxycombustion to provide heat within a reverse flow reactor environment. The oxygen for the oxycombustion can be provided by oxygen stored in an oxygen storage component in the reactor. By using an oxygen storage component to provide the oxygen for combustion during the regeneration step, heat can be added to a reverse flow reactor while reducing or minimizing addition of diluents and while avoiding the need for an air separation unit. As a result, a regeneration flue gas can be formed that is substantially composed of CO.sub.2 and/or H.sub.2O without requiring the additional cost of creating a substantially pure oxygen-containing gas flow.

The present subject matter relates to co-producing H-CNG and CNTs. The process comprises adding catalyst to a first reactor (110) and activating the catalyst and performing a reaction to obtain H-CNG and CNTs. At a first predetermined time after reaction has progressed in the first reactor (110), catalyst is added to a second reactor (120), activated, and then the reaction proceeds simultaneously in the first reactor (110) and second reactor (120). The use of multiple reactors with staggered start times helps in the continuous co-production of H-CNG and CNTs. Catalyst preparation process is integrated with the co-production process for efficient heat recovery. The first and second reactors are fluidized bed reactors with cantilever trays having weirs for controlling the residence time of the catalyst in the reactor and thereby controlling the purity of CNTs produced.

A new process for the decomposition of hydrocarbon feed stream(s) that achieves the conversion of a hydrocarbon feed stream to hydrogen and filamentous carbon, with minimal resulting production of carbon oxides is described herein. In this invention it is proposed to achieve the hydrocarbon conversion by the use of dual fluidized bed reaction zones, fluidly connected, for (i). hydrocarbon reaction (the reactor) and (ii). catalyst regeneration and heating (the regenerator) and to use a transition metal supported catalyst to achieve high hydrocarbon conversion and to produce high quality filamentous carbon.