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Advancing hydrogen production: A comprehensive review of wastewater reforming techniques, feedstocks, and opportunities

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  • Cincotta, Robert E.F.
  • Nye, Charles
  • Yang, Xiaokun

Abstract

Wastewater is produced across nearly all human activities and requires treatment to safeguard human health and the natural environment. Treatment of wastewater often requires a large amount of thermal energy, resulting in wasted heat after the treatment process. Because hydrocarbon reforming needs both water and heat, the integration of wastewater treatment with hydrocarbon reforming, a process that produces synthesis gas rich in hydrogen, offers an excellent opportunity to utilize this waste heat and the impurities in wastewater to produce valuable hydrogen gas, to minimize waste from industrial processes, and to integrate water treatment with the hydrogen economy. Yet, no comprehensive literature review has been conducted to examine the integration of reforming and wastewater.

Suggested Citation

  • Cincotta, Robert E.F. & Nye, Charles & Yang, Xiaokun, 2026. "Advancing hydrogen production: A comprehensive review of wastewater reforming techniques, feedstocks, and opportunities," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 230(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:230:y:2026:i:c:s136403212501353x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2025.116680
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mark A. Engle & Charles W. Nye & Ghanashyam Neupane & Scott A. Quillinan & Jonathan Fred McLaughlin & Travis McLing & Josep A. Martín-Fernández, 2022. "Predicting Rare Earth Element Potential in Produced and Geothermal Waters of the United States via Emergent Self-Organizing Maps," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-21, June.
    2. Markočič, Elena & Kramberger, Boris & van Bennekom, Joost G. & Jan Heeres, Hero & Vos, John & Knez, Željko, 2013. "Glycerol reforming in supercritical water; a short review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 23(C), pages 40-48.
    3. Rocha, Cláudio & Soria, M.A. & Madeira, Luís M., 2021. "Screening of commercial catalysts for steam reforming of olive mill wastewater," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 169(C), pages 765-779.
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