Hydrogen route uses one step

German technology firm Caloric Anlagenbau has developed a new route to hydrogen from natural gas by combining the preformer, reformer and CO-shift in a single process step. The route uses only one catalytic step, followed by a pressure-swing adsorption purification unit. The plant will be able to use natural gas, LPG or naphtha as a feedstock, producing 99.999 per cent pure hydrogen at a pressure of 15 bar. The equipment costs involved are about two thirds those of a traditional steam reforming plant, says the company.