Abstract: A process for preparing a hydrogen and carbon monoxide containing synthesis gas for hydrocarbon synthesis includes autothermally reforming a natural gas (CH.sub.4) feed with oxygen, steam and recycled carbon dioxide and, optionally, recycled hydrocarbon by-products from the hydrocarbon synthesis step. The reforming is carried out in an autothermal reformer comprising a first monolithic catalyst zone utilizing a palladium and platinum containing catalyst followed by a second platinum group metal steam reforming zone. The product of the autothermal reformer comprises hydrogen, carbon oxides and water. Carbon dioxide and water are removed from the reformer effluent and recycled to the reformer. The resulting synthesis gas comprises hydrogen and carbon monoxide in a selected ratio for passage to, e.g., a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis process. Light and heavy hydrocarbon by-products of the Fischer-Tropsch process may be recycled to the autothermal reformer.

Abstract: A process for methanol production includes preparing a hydrogen containing synthesis gas by autothermally reforming a hydrocarbonaceous feed, such as a hydrocarbon feed, with oxygen and steam in an autothermal reformer utilizing a first, monolithic catalyst having a palladium and platinum containing catalyst therein, and a second, platinum group metal steam reforming catalyst. The autothermal reformer provides a relatively simple and compact reactor within which a wide variety of hydrocarbonaceous feeds, from heavy hydrocarbon feedstocks to natural gas, may be utilized for producing methanol synthesis gas, which is advantageously carried out at an elevated pressure. By controlling H.sub.2 O to carbon and O.sub.2 to carbon feed ratios, a given feed can be autothermally reformed to yield a synthesis gas of desired ratio of 1 H.sub.2 to (2CO+3CO.sub.2) for methanol production.

Abstract: A process for the production of ammonia from a hydrocarbonaceous feed, comprising preheating an inlet stream comprising a hydrocarbonaceous feed, H.sub.2 O, air and oxygen to a preheat temperature sufficiently high to initiate catalytic oxidation of the feed, introducing the preheated inlet stream into a first catalyst zone comprising a monolithic body having a plurality of gas flow passages extending therethrough and having a catalytically effective amount of palladium and platinum catalytic components dispersed therein, passing the first zone effluent to a second catalyst zone containing a platinum group metal steam reforming catalyst to form a hydrogen-containing synthesis gas, and passing the synthesis gas into an ammonia synthesis loop.

Abstract: A process for generating electricity from a fuel cell includes generating a hydrogen-rich gas as the fuel for the fuel cell by treating a hydrocarbon feed, which may be a normally liquid feed, in an autothermal reformer utilizing a first monolithic catalyst zone having palladium and platinum catalytic components therein and a second, platinum group metal steam reforming catalyst. Air is used as the oxidant in the hydrocarbon reforming zone and a low oxygen to carbon ratio is maintained to control the amount of dilution of the hydrogen-rich gas with nitrogen of the air without sustaining an insupportable amount of carbon deposition on the catalyst. Anode vent gas may be utilized as the fuel to preheat the inlet stream to the reformer. The fuel cell and the reformer are preferably operated at elevated pressures, up to about a pressure of 150 psia for the fuel cell.

Abstract: In coal gasification processes for the production of synthetic natural gas by the reaction of coal with steam and oxygen under pressure to form a gasifier synthesis gas and a liquid hydrocarbon by-product, the liquid hydrocarbon by-product is treated for solids and metal removal and is then passed to a catalytic partial oxidation zone containing a monolithic platinum-palladium catalyst. The hydrocarbon by-product liquids are converted to secondary synthesis gas by being reacted with steam and oxygen. Optionally, the effluent from the catalytic partial oxidation zone may be passed through a second, steam reforming catalyst to react residual hydrocarbons with water to produce hydrogen and carbon oxides. The gasifier and secondary synthesis gases may be treated to remove acid gases therefrom and then methanated to provide a product synthetic natural gas.

Abstract: A new reforming process employs a new rhenium-platinum catalytic composite having a rhenium to platinum weight ratio in the range of not less than 2 to about 5, whereby longer relative cycle length is obtained when reforming a naphtha having less than about 0.5 ppm by weight of sulfur than if the rhenium-platinum ratio is outside of such range.