Reforming of Liquid Hydrocarbon Fuels for Micro Fuel Cells. Steam Reforming of Pre-reformate from Jet Fuel over Supported Metal Catalysts

Various noble metals were supported on CeO₂ modified Al₂O₃ for the steam reforming of two gas mixtures (SGM-1 and SGM-2) simulating the effluents from pre-reformer. For the steam reforming of the simulated effluents from the complete pre-reforming (SGM-1), the non-precious metal and catalyst could reach almost equilibrium conversions. For SGM-2, since there were significant amounts of higher hydrocarbons (C₂H₆ and C₃H₈), which could produce CH₄ during the reaction, CH₄ conversion decreased as compared to the steam reforming of SGM-1, especially at lower temperatures. These reforming conditions were sufficient for the main reforming even using commercial Ni catalysts. The Ir supported on CeO₂-Al₂O₃ showed the highest activity, which was ≤ 95% conversion for CH₄ out of the simulated gas mixtures (SGM-2). The trend of metal activity for converting the lower hydrocarbons in the presence of H₂ and CO₂ as in the case of SGM-2 was in the order Ir > Ru ∼ Rh > Ni ∼ Pd ∼ Pt.