Catalytic Steam Reforming

The steam reforming process converts hydrocarbons into mixtures of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and methane 1 $$C_n H_m + nH_2 O \to nCO + \left( {n + \frac{m}{2}} \right)H_2 \left( { - \Delta H_{298}^0 < 0} \right) $$2$$ CO + H_2 O \rightleftarrows CO_2 + H_2 \left( { - \Delta H_{298}^0 = 41.2kJ\,mol^{ - 1} } \right) $$3$$ CO + 3H_2 \rightleftarrows CH_4 + H_2 O\left( { - \Delta H_{298}^0 = 206.2kJ\,mol^{ - 1} } \right) $$ The expression reforming is misleading since it is used also for the well-knowm process for improvement of the octane number of gasoline [1]. In the gas industry, reforming has generally been used for “the changing by heat treatment of a hydrocarbon with high heating value into a gaseous mixture of lower heating value” [2].