Syngas in millisecond reactors: higher alkanes and fast lightoff

Steady-state and transient catalytic partial oxidation of hydrocarbons (methane, butane, cyclohexane, n-hexane, isooctane, decane) has been carried out on rhodium-coated alumina monoliths in an effort to determine whether I higher alkanes can be successfully converted to H-2 and CO in short contact time reactors. This process is also necessary to determine the feasibility of on-board hydrogen generation for fuel cell and internal combustion engine applications. Steady-state experiments indicate that hydrocarbon feeds up to at least C-10 can be efficiently converted to high-concentration H-2 (> 70% selectivity) streams in millisecond reactors using ceramic monoliths coated with rhodium catalyst. Transient lightoff experiments indicate that millisecond catalytic partial oxidation reactors can be taken from room temperature to steady state temperature in less than 5 s by using homogeneous combustion to rapidly heat the catalyst. (C) 2003 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.