Catalysts and methods for reforming oxygenated compounds
AssigneeVirent, Inc.
InventorsRandy D. Cortright, Nicholas W. Vollendorf, Charles C. Hornemann, Shawn P. McMahon
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Abstract
Disclosed are catalysts and methods that can reform aqueous solutions of oxygenated compounds such as ethylene glycol, glycerol, sugar alcohols, and sugars to generate products such as hydrogen and alkanes. In some embodiments, aqueous solutions containing at least 20 wt % of the oxygenated compounds can be reformed over a catalyst comprising a Group VIII transition metal and a Group VIIB transition metal, preferably supported on an activated carbon-supported catalyst. In other embodiments, catalysts are provided for the production of hydrogen or alkanes at reaction temperatures less than 300° C.
Claims18
A method of reforming oxygenated hydrocarbons in a feedstock solution, the method comprising the steps of
- modifying an aqueous-stable support comprising carbon with a member selected from the group consisting of titanium, vanadium and tungsten, and
- contacting the feedstock solution with a reforming catalyst on the modified support under conditions of reaction temperature and reaction pressure effective to produce hydrogen gas and alkanes having 1 to 8 carbon atoms,
- wherein the feedstock solution comprises oxygenated hydrocarbons in an amount of at least 20 weight percent and
- wherein the reforming catalyst comprises rhenium and at least one Group VIII transition metal.
A reforming catalyst prepared by a process comprising the steps of:
- (a) impregnating a carbon support with titania, vanadia, tungsten or zirconia;
- (b) adhering a catalytic composition to the impregnated carbon support, the catalytic composition comprising Re and a second metal selected from the group consisting of:
- Ir, Ni, Pd, Pt, Rh and Ru;
- and
- (c) adhering a third metal of Ce or La to the impregnated carbon support or to the catalytic composition.
A composition of matter comprising
- (a) a reforming catalyst comprising rhenium, a Group VIII metal, and Ce or La in which a reforming catalyst is adhered to the modified carbon support, wherein the carbon support has been modified with a member selected from the group consisting of titanium, vanadium and tungsten;
- (b) a gaseous phase comprising hydrogen, methane, carbon dioxide and one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of:
- ethane and propane;
- and
- (c) a liquid phase comprising a C1-C6 oxygenated hydrocarbon.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.