Coke Resistant Catalyst for the Partial Oxidation Reforming of Hydrocarbon Fuels

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Coke Resistant Catalyst for the Partial Oxidation Reforming of Hydrocarbon Fuels--Aspen Systems, Inc., 184 Cedar Hill Street, Marlborough, MA 01752-3017; 508-481-5058
Dr. Wendell E. Rhine, Principal Investigator
Mr. Hamed Borhanian, Business Official
DOE Grant No. DE-FG02-97ER82332
Amount: $75,000

One of the attractive approaches to developing advanced transportation technologies is the proton-exchange-membrane (PEM) fuel cell which is considered a potential replacement for the internal combustion engine. PEM¿s, which offer high power density and faster start-ups, can be fueled from any hydrogen-rich material such as natural gas, methanol, petroleum distillates, etc. However, fuel cell performance is degraded by catalyst poisoning. This project is to develop catalysts to use with a leading fuel reforming technology called "partial oxidation" that converts hydrocarbons to hydrogen fuel at low temperatures. In Phase I transition metal carbides will be investigated that have been shown to be excellent partial oxidation catalysts and resist deactivation due to coking. These transition metal carbides will be synthesized, characterized, and evaluated as partial oxidation catalysts for the reforming of octane during this phase. The catalysts will be characterized by determining their surface area, pore size and pore size distribution, particle size, crystallinity, and presence of impurity phases. Their catalytic activity for the partial oxidation reforming of octane at temperatures between 400 and 900oC will be determined.
Commercial Applications and Other Benefits
If the proposed research is successful, non-noble metal catalysts will be identified that are resistant to coking and give better long term performance than currently available catalysts. In addition to being resistant to deactivation due to coking, it is expected that the catalysts would not be deactivated by sulfur in the fuel. This fact is a very important aspect of the proposed catalysts that would make on-board reformers of hydrocarbon fuels practical.