Steam reforming of methane and biogas: Thermodynamic and kinetic review for hydrogen production

Abstract This article presents a thermodynamic review of steam reforming processes for methane and biogas, examining the effects of varying CH 4 (40–100 vol%) and CO 2 (0‐50 vol%) concentrations and steam‐to‐carbon (S/C) ratios in the range of 1.0–3.0. It offers a detailed review of thermodynamic assessment, explores reaction pathways, and reviews the kinetic models associated with these reforming processes. A technical evaluation of the steam biogas reforming (SBR) method and its related energy is also offered. The analysis shows that increasing the S/C ratio at a fixed temperature enhances CH 4 conversion by approximately 70–95% and increases hydrogen (H 2 ) yield by 20–55%, with maximum H 2 production typically observed at S/C ratios of 2:1 to 3:1 due to the dominance of the water‐gas shift (WGS) reaction. Steam addition significantly suppresses coke formation by about 20–50% through enhanced coke gasification, while increasing CO 2 concentration promotes CO formation and further reduces coke selectivity at temperatures above 550°C via CO 2 ‐assisted gasification reactions. These findings guide the optimization of industrial hydrogen production from methane and biogas, improving efficiency and reducing carbon deposition, and support the development of low‐carbon reforming systems integrated with carbon capture and fuel cell technologies.