IP Library Granted Patent US 12709541
Granted Patent B2
US 12709541 · App. 18/321,445 · Granted Aug 18, 2026

High entropy alloy catalyst for production of hydrogen from natural gas

Inventors: Sehmus Ozden (Katy, TX); Feng Liang (Houston, TX); Ashok Santra (Tomball, TX); Rajesh Saini (Cypress, TX)
Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
C01B3/26C01B3/40C01B3/48C01B3/56C01B2203/0227C01B2203/0277C01B2203/0283C01B2203/042C01B2203/0475C01B2203/1058C01B2203/1241
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12709541
App. No.
18/321,445
Granted
Aug 18, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Hydrogen may be produced from natural gas (e.g., methane). For example, a method for producing hydrogen from natural gas may include: introducing natural gas to a reactor, wherein the reactor contains therein a catalyst, wherein the catalyst includes a high entropy alloy, and wherein the high entropy alloy has an entropy, S, such that S≥11.31 J K −1 mol −1 ; reacting the natural gas with the catalyst to form hydrogen gas and solid carbon; and separating the hydrogen gas from the solid carbon to produce a hydrogen stream comprising the hydrogen gas from the reactor.

Claims (12)

1 . A method comprising:

introducing natural gas to a reactor, wherein the reactor contains therein a catalyst, wherein the catalyst comprises a high entropy alloy, and wherein the high entropy alloy has an entropy, S, such that S≥11.31 J K −1 mol −1 ;

reacting the natural gas with the catalyst to form hydrogen gas and solid carbon; and

separating the hydrogen gas from the solid carbon to produce a hydrogen stream comprising the hydrogen gas from the reactor.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the high entropy alloy comprises 5 or more metals, and wherein each of the 5 or more metals has a composition in the high entropy alloy from 0.1 at % (atomic percentage) to 50 at %.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the 5 or more metals are selected from a group consisting of: cobalt, chromium, iron, manganese, nickel, aluminum, magnesium, copper, zinc, zirconium, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, silver, tungsten, rhenium, iridium, platinum, gold, cerium, ytterbium, tin, calcium, beryllium.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the high entropy alloy comprises a catalyst support.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the high entropy alloy comprises a catalyst promotor.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the catalyst further comprises an external catalyst support.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the catalyst further comprises an external catalyst promotor.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the solid carbon comprises amorphous carbon, carbon nanotubes, nanofibers, or any combination thereof.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the catalyst further comprises a non-stick additive, and wherein the non-stick additive comprises a magnesium silicate, a boron silicate, a borate silicate, aluminum oxide, silicon dioxide, titanium oxide, zirconium oxide, or any combination thereof.