TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Method: The step of separating of the molecular hydrogen from the hydrogen-containing fluid stream is conducted in a steam reforming reactor at a pressure of 0.1 to about 10 MPa and a space velocity of 50 to about 1000 GHSV (hour-1). In method (P1), the contacting of the gaseous fluid stream with the palladium-alloyed membrane is in a steam reforming reactor at a pressure selected from pressures of 0.1 to about 10 MPa, preferably of 0.5 to about 5 MPa, especially of 1 to about 3 MPa, particularly of 2 to about 3 MPa, where the contacting of the gaseous fluid stream with the palladium-alloyed membrane is in a steam reforming reactor at a temperature selected from temperatures of 673 to about 1173 degrees K, of 773 to about 1073 degrees K and of 773 to about 973 degrees K, and the contacting of the gaseous fluid stream with the palladium-alloyed membrane is in a steam reforming reactor at a space velocity selected from space velocities of 60 to about 900 GHSV (hour-1), of 70 to about 800 GHSV (hour-1), and of 100 to about 700 GHSV (hour-1). Preferred Components: The permeated molecular hydrogen stream comprises at least about 80 mole% of molecular hydrogen. The hydrogen-containing fluid stream is provided by one of a steam reforming reactor of a hydrocarbon, a steam reforming reactor of methane or a steam reforming reactor of an alcohol. The steam reforming reactor includes a catalyst for catalyzing molecular hydrogen production, where the catalyst is in the form of one of a fluidized or packed bed. The palladium-alloyed membrane is supported on at least one surface of a membrane support, where the membrane support is porous and permeable. An intermetallic material is positioned between the palladium-alloyed membrane and the membrane support. The intermetallic material comprises at least one of alumina, silica, zirconia, stabilized zirconia such as yttria or ceria stabilized zirconia, titania, ceria, silicon, carbide, chromium oxide, ceramic materials, and zeolites. The intermetallic material is a diffusion barrier between the membrane support and the palladium-alloyed membrane. The membrane support is in the form of one of a tube, a corrugated shape, a system of double-plates, a plate coiled as a double spiral, a plane, a curvilinear sheet, or flat disk. The palladium-alloyed membrane has an average thickness of 0.5 to about 15 mu m. The palladium-alloyed membrane has a hydrogen permeance of 1x 10-3 to about 1x 10-2 mol/m2/second/Pa0.5. The palladium-alloyed membrane comprises palladium and one of about 0.5 wt.% ruthenium, about 17 wt.% of platinum, and about 27 wt.% of platinum. The palladium-alloyed membrane in method (P1) comprises palladium and at least one of ruthenium, rhodium, iridium, platinum, silver, gold and osmium. The permeated molecular hydrogen stream in method (P1) comprises greater than or equal to 80 mole% molecular hydrogen. The gaseous fluid stream in method (P1) is provided by one of a steam reforming reactor of a hydrocarbon, a steam reforming reactor of methane or a steam reforming reactor of an alcohol. The membrane support is selected from 301, 304, 305, 316, 317, and 321 series of stainless steels, HASTELLOY B-2 (RTM: nickel based alloy), HASTELLOY C-4 (RTM: nickel-chromium-molybdenum alloy), HASTELLOY C-22 (RTM: Nickel-Chromium-Molybdenum-Tungsten alloy), HASTELLOY C-276 (RTM: nickel alloy), HASTELLOY G-30 (RTM: high chromium nickel based alloy), HASTELLOY X (RTM: nickel based superalloys) and others, and INCONEL alloys 600 (RTM: nickel-chromium alloy), INCONEL alloys 625 (RTM: Nickel-Chromium-Molybdenum alloy), INCONEL alloys 690 (RTM: nickel-chromium alloy), and INCONEL alloys 718 (RTM: nickel chromium alloy), and the membrane support is in the form of one of a tube, corrugated shape, a system of double-plates, a plate coiled as a double spiral, plane, a curvilinear sheet, or flat disk. EXAMPLE - No suitable example given.