Carbon Monoxide Cleanup Process

Researchers at Argonne are developing new materials and processes for the removal of carbon monoxide from the reformate from a gasoline, methanol, or natural gas reformer, especially for use in automotive fuel cell systems. Carbon monoxide is a strong poison for the anode electrocatalyst in the polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC). In conventional reformate processing for hydrogen production, a two-stage catalytic water-gas shift reactor, followed by catalytic selective methanation or oxidation, is used to remove carbon monoxide.

Argonne research efforts are directed towards the development of highly active and thermally rugged catalysts to yield compact and lightweight shift reactors for automotive use. Promising catalysts are based on combinations of different noble and base metals with various ceramic, carbon, or zeolite supports.

January 27, 2004