Metallic based hydrocarbon pyrolysis

A reaction process comprising:

• heating a liquid phase catalyst in a liquid catalyst section to produce a gas phase catalyst;
• passing the gas phase catalyst into a reaction passage comprising one or more pipes or connections;
• introducing a hydrocarbon reactant into the reaction passage in contact with the gas phase catalyst, wherein the hydrocarbon reactant is introduced via one or a plurality of injection points along an axial length of each of the one or more pipes or connections;
• reacting the hydrocarbon reactant in contact with the gas phase catalyst in the reaction passage to produce a product gas comprising hydrogen, unreacted hydrocarbon reactant, and entrained solid carbon, wherein the hydrocarbon reactant does not contact liquid phase catalyst in the reaction passage or the liquid catalyst section;
• removing the product gas comprising the entrained solid carbon from the reaction passage;
• separating the entrained solid carbon from the product gas;
• cooling the product gas after separating the solid carbon therefrom, whereby the gas phase catalyst in the product gas condenses and the condensed catalyst separates from the product gas;
• and
• returning the condensed catalyst to the liquid catalyst section,
• wherein the solid carbon is not wetted by the liquid phase catalyst.