Autothermal reforming of Fischer–Tropsch diesel over alumina and ceria–zirconia supported catalysts

Autothermal reforming (ATR) of synthetic Fischer–Tropsch diesel has been carried out to evaluate the fuel reformer and the catalyst performance at realistic operating conditions. Hydrogen was produced via ATR in a full-scale reformer (ID = 84 mm, L = 400 mm) at 650–750 °C. The two monolithic catalysts were sequentially located in the reformer and simultaneously tested. The catalysts were composed of 1:1 wt% Rh:Pt as active metals; CeO2, MgO, Y2O3, and La2O3 were used as promoters. The first catalytic monolith was supported on δ-Al2O3 and the second on CeO2–ZrO2. Fresh samples were characterized by N2-BET, XRD and H2-TPR analyses. Catalyst activity was evaluated at O2/C ∼ 0.34–0.45 and H2O/C ∼ 2–3. Results show an increased catalyst activity after the second monolithic catalyst due to the effect of steam reforming, water–gas shift reaction (WGS) and higher catalyst reducibility of RhxOy species on the CeO2–ZrO2 mixed oxide as a result of the improved redox properties. Hydrogen concentrations of 42 vol% and fuel conversion of 98% after the CeO2–ZrO2-supported catalyst was obtained at O2/C = 0.42 and H2O/C = 2.5.