Develops methane pyrolysis technology for turquoise hydrogen and high-purity anode graphite.
H-IRON
DortmundNew on Amplifa
About H-IRON
H-IRON is a technology company developing a methane pyrolysis platform for the simultaneous production of turquoise hydrogen and high-purity anode graphite (99.95 % purity). In the process, natural gas or biomethane is fed into an electrically heated pyrolysis reactor containing molten iron; the methane splits into hydrogen and graphite, and the hydrogen is subsequently purified in a PSA unit. The consortium consists of UGS LLC, UGS Europe and Semicom, combining expertise in gas processing, advanced materials and industrial engineering. For the furnace and plant components of graphite production, H-IRON cooperates with the furnace manufacturer ABP Induction. Target industries include batteries and electromobility, petrochemicals, the steel industry, ammonia, power generation and transport. The office and the experimental hydrogen production facility are located in Dortmund.
- Site
- Dortmund
- Processes
- Methane pyrolysis in molten iron (production of turquoise hydrogen and anode graphite), Methane pyrolysis technology for turquoise hydrogen, Production of high-purity anode graphite (99.95 %), PSA hydrogen purification, Graphite quality testing by external laboratory
- Materials
- Graphite, Iron (molten iron as reaction medium), Hydrogen, Natural gas/biomethane, Molten iron
- Certificates
- External laboratory analysis (graphite quality), ISO 9001
- Industries
- Batteries/electromobility, Petrochemicals, Steel industry, Ammonia, Power generation, Transport
- 01
Natural gas/biomethane feed into methane pyrolysis reactor with molten iron
- 02
Splitting of methane into hydrogen and graphite at high temperatures
- 03
PSA hydrogen purification
- 04
Separation of the graphite flakes and storage
- 05
Graphite quality inspection by external laboratory
Materials and Processes
Natural gas/biomethane
Feedstock of the methane pyrolysis, which is split at high temperatures into solid carbon and hydrogen.
Molten iron
Serves as the reaction medium in the electrically heated pyrolysis reactor.
Hydrogen
Product without CO2 emissions, purified in a PSA unit.
Graphite
Anode graphite with 99.95 % purity for batteries and high-tech applications.
Sites
Dortmund
DEOffice and experimental hydrogen production facility
- Materials
- Natural gas/biomethane, molten iron, hydrogen, graphite
- Methane pyrolysis reactor (with molten iron, electrically heated)
- PSA unit (hydrogen purification)
- Induction furnace for anode graphite production (with ABP Induction)
Products
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Methane pyrolysis in molten iron (production of turquoise hydrogen and anode graphite)Engineering | – | – | – | – | Natural gas/biomethane, Molten iron, Graphite, Hydrogen |
3 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Methane pyrolysis reactor (with molten iron, electrically heated) | – | – | – | – | Dortmund (experimental facility) |
| PSA unit (hydrogen purification) | – | – | – | – | – |
| Furnace / induction furnace for anode graphite production | ABP Induction | – | – | – | – |
Additional services
Quality
The graphite quality is tested by a leading German laboratory; the analysis showed that the graphite exceeded the industry benchmark in all metrics.
| Evidence | Dortmund |
|---|---|
| External laboratory analysis (graphite quality) | |
| ISO 9001 |
History
- 2022
Completion of the full modelling, calculations and most of the experimental tests
- 2023
Start of final industrial tests, patent applications, strategic and financial partnerships as well as detailed engineering of the industrial demonstration plant (ISDP)
- 2024
Participation in the Hydrogen Technology Expo North America, discussions with partners
- 2025
Participation in the Westphalian Hydrogen Conference 2025
- 2026-01
Visit by the Dortmund Economic Development Agency to the H-IRON office and the site of the experimental hydrogen production facility
- 2026-03
Graphite quality test results from a leading German laboratory exceeded the industry benchmark
- 2026
Launch of the industrial TRL-7 demonstration plant (planned)
- 2027
Optimization of the design for the TRL-9 industrial site (planned)
- 2028
Commissioning of the TRL-9 industrial site (planned)