Review: - Maximizing hydrogen production by catalytic cracking of plasma pyrolyzed gas from vacuum residue

Hydrogen production from plasma pyrolysis of vacuum residue followed by decomposition/ cracking of lighter hydrocarbon is one of the economically feasible approach , to fulfill the need of energy supply, to maximize the utilization of heavier residue, to minimize the emission of green house gases such as CO, CO2 , and to utilize the deposited carbon filaments In graphite electrode production. This is important as hydrogen produces from non conventional energy sources involves higher capital investment, while hydrogen production form conventional gasification or steam reforming of hydrocarbon is impure and cost of separation is high. Presence of Carbon monoxide as an impurity in hydrogen makes it unsuitable for fuel cell because it is poisonous to proton exchange membrane fuel cell. Various transition element particularly Nickel catalyst supported on Alumina or Silica bed can be economically used for hydrogen production. Decomposition of methane and ethane over Ni catalyst supported on Alumina and silica shows first order reaction rate. Reduction in catalytic efficiency over a period of time is due to deposition of coke on active site of catalyst, which is regenerated by partial oxidation of coke or by steam regeneration at elevated temperature.