The Steam Reformer There are a couple of types of steam
reformers, one reforming methanol and the other reforming
natural gas. The molecular formula for methanol is CH3OH. The
goal of the reformer is to remove as much of the hydrogen (H) as
possible from this molecule, while minimizing the emission of
pollutants such as carbon monoxide (CO). The process starts with
the vaporization of liquid methanol and water. Heat produced in
the reforming process is used to accomplish this. This mixture
of methanol and water vapor is passed through a heated chamber
that contains a catalyst. As the methanol molecules hit the
catalyst, they split into carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen gas
(H2): The water vapor splits into hydrogen gas and oxygen; this
oxygen combines with the CO to form CO2. In this way, very
little CO is released, as most of it is converted to CO2.
Reforming Natural Gas Natural gas, which is composed mostly of
methane (CH4), is processed using a similar reaction. The
methane in the natural gas reacts with w