Autothermal syngas production from model gasoline over Ni, Rh and Ni–Rh/Al2O3 monolithic catalysts

On-board reforming of liquid fuels is attractive for fuel cell-powered auxiliary power units in vehicles. In this work, monometallic Ni/Al2O3/cordierite, Rh/Al2O3/cordierite and bimetallic Ni–Rh/Al2O3/cordierite monolithic catalysts were prepared, characterized and tested in ATR of isooctane for syngas production. Compared to monometallic formulations, the bimetallic Ni–Rh/Al2O3 catalyst was active for ATR at lower temperature and H2 production already reached the equilibrium composition in 400–550 °C temperature range. The Ni–Rh/Al2O3 catalyst exhibited stable performances for 140 h in ATR of isooctane at 700 °C, and was unaffected by oxidizing conditions at 700 °C. Thermoneutral reactions conditions at H2O/C = 2 were obtained with O/C = 0.66. Carbon deposition was marginal during ATR of isooctane and no carbons whiskers were detected. Post-reaction characterizations showed that the Ni particles were small enough to prevent filamentous carbon formation, while Rh also prevented carbon film deposition by improving the gasification of adsorbed C with steam.