Steam methane reforming (SMR) is the primary method for producing commercial-grade hydrogen, widely used in the industrial synthesis of ammonia and other chemicals. This process involves reacting methane with steam at high temperatures and pressures in the presence of a catalyst.

The SMR process is represented by the following reactions:

CH₄ + H₂O ⇌ CO + 3H₂

CO + H₂O ⇌ CO₂ + H₂

The catalyst accelerates these reactions, efficiently converting methane into a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide.