Selective steam reforming of aromatic compounds on metal catalysts

Abstract

Steam reforming can be used to gasify aromatic molecules selectively. First, toluene steam dealkylation is reviewed. This reaction is catalyzed by Group VIII metal catalysts: rhodium is the most active metal and platinum, the most selective into benzene but both are extremely support-sensitive. We discuss the rate-determining step of OH group surface diffusion from support to metal as well as structural and chemical parameters which control selectivity. Steam reforming of other aromatics (alkylbenzenes, alkylnaphthalenes, oxygen-containing and nitrogen-containing aromatics) are reviewed in a second part. When possible, activity and selectivity results obtained in steam reforming are compared to those obtained in hydrogen conversions of the same compounds. The third part of this paper refers to the patent literature concerning the design of stable selective catalysts.