Autothermal reforming of methane to syngas for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis with promoted palladium and a fast start-up device

In this study, a Pd catalyst was prepared with promoters such as CeO₂, BaO and SrO in a washcoated form on a metallic monolith for autothermal reforming of methane to syngas for the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. A reactor was installed with an electric heater in the form of the metallic monolith as a start-up device instead of a burner with which stable and fast start-ups (within 4 min) were achieved. Gas hourly space velocity and O₂/CH₄ governed, methane conversion, while H₂O/CH₄ controlled H₂/CO ratio. A methane conversion of approx. 96%, H₂+CO selectivity of approx. 85%, and H₂/CO of approx. 2.6 were obtained under the conditions of gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) at 103000 h^?1, O₂/CH₄=0.7 and H₂O/CH₄=0.35.