Steam reforming of hexadecane over a Rh/CeO2 catalyst in microchannels: Experimental and numerical investigation

Hexadecane is chosen as diesel surrogate to experimentally and numerically investigate diesel reforming in microchannels coated with Rh/CeO2. A detailed kinetic model is presented and discussed using experimental data on steam reforming of not only hexadecane but also of methane and propane providing a more detailed understanding also of conversion of hexadecane fragments. The turnover frequencies of these linear alkanes were found to be inversely proportional to the number of carbon atoms per hydrocarbon molecule. Based on these results, a kinetic model was developed that links a global reaction equation for the dissociative adsorption of long-chain hydrocarbons with an elementary surface reaction mechanism of steam reforming of methane over Rh/Al2O3 catalysts. The model adequately describes the observed correlation between turnover frequency and the number of carbon atoms the hydrocarbon contains. Furthermore, a significant impact of the ceria support on the reformate composition was observed.