What does SR stand for?

Although there are chemical ways to convert methane to methanol, which is easy to transport and which is suitable as a raw material for the chemical industry, "the processes commonly used up to now for producing diesel fuel - steam reforming followed by methanol synthesis or Fischer-Tropsch synthesis - are not economical," said Ferdi Schuth, Director at the Max Planck Institute for Coal Research in Mulheim an der Ruhr.

It exceeds 100% because of H contained in water added for steam reforming.

Steam reforming of natural gas is the method most commonly used commercially.

Published in the Oct 3rd issue of Science, the study was an outgrowth of research into steam reforming, where methane is made to react with water on a nickel surface heated to 1000[degrees]C.

2], much like steam reforming of natural gas, there's a difference.

The Wisconsin researchers were working on a project unrelated to hydrogen generation when they realized that oxygenated hydrocarbons could release hydrogen at more modest temperatures than those required in the steam reforming of fossil fuel.

Steam reforming is "real interesting on paper, but it's a long way from reality," said Mike Wilson, who runs the state's nuclear-cleanup program.

ZUG, Switzerland -- Foster Wheeler AG (Nasdaq: FWLT) announced that its UK-headquartered subsidiary Foster Wheeler Energy Limited, part of its Global Engineering and Construction Group, has been awarded a contract for the design and supply of a Terrace-Wall[TM] steam reforming furnace by BP Chemicals Ltd.