Autothermal reforming catalyst and process of producing fuel gas for fuel cell

Abstract

Autothermal reforming catalysts comprises ruthenium supported on a support containing 5 to 40 percent by mass of a cerium oxide or rare earth element oxide which is composed principally of a cerium oxide, 60 to 95 percent by mass of an aluminum oxide, and 0 to 10 percent by mass in terms of metal of one or more elements selected from the group consisting of an alkaline metal and an alkaline earth metal, the atomic ratio of cerium and rhodium (Ce/Rh) being 1 to 250.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An autothermal reforming catalyst which comprises ruthenium supported on a support containing 5 to 40 percent by mass of a cerium oxide or rare earth element oxide which is composed principally of a cerium oxide, 60 to 95 percent by mass of an aluminum oxide, and 0 to 10 percent by mass in terms of metal of one or more elements selected from the group consisting of an alkaline metal and alkaline earth metal, the atomic ratio of cerium and ruthenium (Ce/Ru) being 1 to 250.  
     
     
         2 . The autothermal reforming catalyst according to  claim 1  wherein ruthenium is supported in an amount of 0.1 to 3 percent by mass in terms of metal based on the catalyst weight on said support.  
     
     
         3 . The autothermal reforming catalyst according to  claim 1  wherein said cerium oxide is ceric oxide.  
     
     
         4 . The autothermal reforming catalyst according to  claim 1  wherein said rare earth element oxide contains a cerium oxide in an amount of 50 percent by mass or more.  
     
     
         5 . The autothermal reforming catalyst according to  claim 1  wherein said aluminum oxide is alumina or silica-alumina.  
     
     
         6 . The autothermal reforming catalyst according to  claim 1  wherein said alkaline metal is potassium or caesium.  
     
     
         7 . The autothermal reforming catalyst according to  claim 1  wherein said alkaline earth metal is selected from the group consisting of magnesium, barium, and calcium.  
     
     
         8 . The autothermal reforming catalyst according to  claim 1  wherein said support contains 10 to 35 percent by mass of a cerium oxide or rare earth element oxide which is composed principally of a cerium oxide, 65 to 90 percent by mass of an aluminum oxide, and 0.8 to 7 percent by mass in terms of metal of one or more elements selected from the group consisting of an alkaline metal and an alkaline earth metal.  
     
     
         9 . The autothermal reforming catalyst according to  claim 1  wherein the surface area of said catalyst is 5 to 200 m 2 /g.  
     
     
         10 . The autothermal reforming catalyst according to  claim 1  wherein the pore volume of said catalyst is 0.05 to 1.0 cm 3 /g.  
     
     
         11 . A process for producing a fuel gas for a fuel cell which comprises a step of converting hydrocarbons and/or oxygen-containing hydrocarbons to a reformed gas which is composed principally of hydrogen by an autothermal reforming reaction using the catalyst as defined in  claim 1  or  2 .  
     
     
         12 . The process for producing a fuel gas for a fuel cell according to  claim 11  wherein said autothermal reaction is conducted at a catalyst bed inlet temperature of 200 to 800° C. and at a catalyst bed exit temperature of 500 to 1,000° C.  
     
     
         13 . The process for producing a fuel gas for a fuel cell according to  claim 11  wherein said autothermal reaction is conducted at a pressure of atmospheric pressure to 5 MPa.  
     
     
         14 . The process for producing a fuel gas for a fuel cell according to  claim 11  wherein the feed stock to be converted to said reformed gas is selected from the group consisting of methane, ethane, propane, butane, natural gas, LPG, manufactured gas, gasoline, naphtha, kerosene, liquid fuels having a boiling point within the range of those thereof, methanol, ethanol, propanol, and dimethyl ether.