Syngas production from butane using a flame-made Rh/Ce0.5Zr0.5O2 catalyst

The capability of flame-made Rh/Ce0.5Zr0.5O2 nanoparticles catalyzing the production of H2- and CO-rich syngas from butane was investigated for different Rh loadings (0–2.0 wt% Rh) and two different ceramic fibers (Al2O3/SiO2 and SiO2) as plugging material in a packed bed reactor for a temperature range from 225 to 750 °C. The main goal of this study was the efficient processing of butane at temperatures between 500 and 600 °C for a micro-intermediate-temperature SOFC system. Our results showed that Rh/Ce0.5Zr0.5O2 nanoparticles offer a very promising material for butane-to-syngas conversion with complete butane conversion and a hydrogen yield of 77% at 600 °C. The catalytic performance of packed beds strongly depended on the use of either Al2O3/SiO2 or SiO2 fiber plugs. This astonishing effect could be attributed to the interplay of homogeneous and heterogeneous chemical reactions during the high-temperatures within the reactor.