Technology

Methane pyrolysis

The technology of methane pyrolysis has been researched academically for many years and the first applications are mostly built on a laboratory scale. While it is possible in many laboratory systems to produce hydrogen with a purity of between 90% and 99%, the remaining materials from the process usually have to be disposed of at great expense because they are contaminated. The present initiative intends to keep the purity of both hydrogen and carbon high enough that they can be sold as marketable products. The technology can thus create the economic breakthrough.

The process used by the association heats the methane in a plasma generated by microwaves and breaks the bonds in the molecule (CH4) so that hydrogen (2*H2) and carbon (C) escape from the plasma and can be used from there. In order to advance the technology quickly and achieve the goals, Empa researchers work closely together with top-class employees from AVAG, Holcim, Sakowin, Sika, Sulzer, the Swiss Safety Center, Tech Cluster Zug and V-ZUG, among others.