Our Technology

vulcanx Technology

Problem

Producing 94 million tonnes of hydrogen in 2021 emitted 1 Gigatonne of CO₂e and consumed 2 billion cubic meters of water.

These are equivalent to CO₂ emissions from 230M passenger cars and water consumption from 8.5M households per year.

Solution

Hydrogen plus Solid Carbon

We are proud to offer affordable and low-emission hydrogen and solid carbon. Through our advanced pyrolysis process, we have perfected the transformation of natural gas into its fundamental components.

Using a bubbling technique and our state-of-the-art molten metal recirculation system, we introduce natural gas from the bottom, passing it through molten metal to ensure consistent and efficient output. The reaction that occurs in this high-temperature and oxygen-free environment converts the natural gas into its basic constituents: hydrogen and solid carbon. This process, known as pyrolysis, is key to our efficient production method.

Following the reaction, we extract the solid carbon from the reactor, ensuring its purity and quality for various applications. Meanwhile, the hydrogen rises to the top of the reactor and is collected for further use.

DOE

Targets

>70%

Less GHG

Scalable

Production

No Water

Utilized

No Oxygen

Utilized

Flexible

Installation

To produce 1 kg of hydrogen through the steam methane reforming (SMR) process, a minimum of 3.37 kg of methane and 12 kg of water are required. Unfortunately, this process contributes significantly to carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. In fact, the production of this amount of hydrogen emits over 9 kilograms of CO₂.

STATUS QUO
Steam Methane Reforming (SMR)

3.37 kg CH₄ (0.185 GJ)

12 kg H₂O

9.27 kg CO₂

From heat source + SMR reaction

10.58 kg H₂O

1 kg H₂ (0.142 GJ)

Methane pyrolysis offers a compelling solution for hydrogen production, combining cost-effectiveness with reduced CO₂ emissions. Unlike SMR, methane pyrolysis eliminates the need for water in the process. To produce 1 kg of hydrogen through methane pyrolysis, only 4 kg of methane and 0.042 GJ of process heat are required. This streamlined approach not only optimizes resource usage but also contributes to at least 70% lower CO₂ emissions compared to SMR. In addition to its environmental benefits, methane pyrolysis also yields a valuable by-product: solid carbon. This carbon can be utilized in various industrial applications, providing an additional revenue stream and reducing waste.

Our Technology

vulcanx Technology

Problem