Design and pilot scale tests of monolithic catalysts for autotermal/steam reforming of natural gas and biofuels

Transformation of fuels (fossil fuel and biofuels) into synthesis gas (syngas) or hydrogen is one of the most important tasks of catalysis in the energy-related fields. Catalysts comprised of precious metals and/or Ni supported on complex oxides with a high lattice oxygen mobility are very efficient and stable to coking in autothermal/steam reforming of various fuels including oxygenates. Monolithic substrates with a good thermal conductivity are promising for providing an efficient heat transfer within the reactor to prevent emergence of hot spots/cool zones deteriorating performance. Results of research aimed on design of such catalysts and characterization of their performance parameters at the pilot-scale level are presented. Structured catalysts comprised of complex fluorite-like/perovskite-like oxides supported on heat-conducting metal/cermet substrates and promoted by precious metals and/or Ni possess a high and stable performance in steam reforming of CH₄ and biofuels. This offers new possibilities for transformation of a broad range of fossil and biofuels into syngas for the energy field. This is an abstract of a paper presented at the 2009 AIChE Spring National Meeting and 5th Global Congress on Process Safety (Tampa, FL 4/26-30/2009).