Autothermal syngas production from model gasoline over Ni, Rh and Ni-Rh/Al2O3 monolithic catalysts
Résumé
On-board reforming of liquid fuels is attractive for fuel cell-powered auxiliary power units in vehicles. In this work, monometallic Ni/Al2O3/cordierite, Rh/Al2O3/cordierite and bimetallic Ni-Rh/Al2O3/cordierite monolithic catalysts were prepared, characterized and tested in ATR of isooctane for syngas production. Compared to monometallic formulations, the bimetallic Ni-Rh/Al2O3 catalyst was active for ATR at lower temperature and H-2 production already reached the equilibrium composition in 400-550 degrees C temperature range. The Ni-Ph/Al2O3 catalyst exhibited stable performances for 140 h in ATR of isooctane at 700 degrees C, and was unaffected by oxidizing conditions at 700 degrees C. Thermoneutral reactions conditions at H2O/C = 2 were obtained with O/C = 0.66. Carbon deposition was marginal during ATR of isooctane and no carbons whiskers were detected. Post-reaction characterizations showed that the Ni particles were small enough to prevent filamentous carbon formation, while Rh also prevented carbon film deposition by improving the gasification of adsorbed C with steam. Copyright (C) 2014, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.