The Importance of Hydrogen for Brazil: a source of clean energy and a path to the production of nitrogen fertilizers

Hydrogen is the lightest chemical element in the periodic table, with a high calorific value, much higher than that of methane, gasoline, diesel, and methanol. Its combustion releases a large amount of energy and water as a product. The major part of the world’s production of hydrogen comes from natural gas, through Synthesis Gas production, which can also be produced from alternative renewable sources or even water. Synthesis gas is an intermediate product of great importance for the industry, as it is possible to produce hydrogen from it, but, among other products, ammonia is one of the most important products as is used mainly to produce fertilizers. This paper resume the importance of syngas and hydrogen, its ways of production, classifications, scientific production around the world in this field, and their relation to the current economical problems such as food shortages and energy crisis specifically in Brazil.