HYDROGEN PRODUCTION FOR LOW TEMPERATURE FUEL CELLS FROM VAPOUR REFORMING AND OXIDATIVE ALCOHOL REFORMING, USING CATALYSTS BASED ON MIXED OXIDES WITH A PEROVSKITE STRUCTURE

摘要

The present invention comprises the use of catalysts based on mixed oxides and containing at least lanthanum, nickel and oxigen in low-temperature vapour reforming and oxidative reforming reactions of alcohols or of a mixture of these alcohols, such as bio-ethanol. The catalysts have a perovskite structure represented by the formula La_1-xM_xNiO₃ where x=0.0 to 1.0 and M stands for elements of the alkaline earth metal or lanthanide group. The hydrogen generated by the method according to the invention can be used, inter alia, in a low-temperature fuel cell, such as a PEM fuel cell.