Catalyst formulations containing Group 11 metals for hydrogen generation

1. A method for producing a hydrogen-rich gas which comprises:

contacting a CO-containing gas with a water gas shift catalyst in the presence of water at a temperature of not more than about 450° C.,

wherein the water gas shift catalyst comprises:

a) at least one of Rh, Ni, Pt, their oxides and mixtures thereof;

b) at least one of Cu, Ag, Au, their oxides and mixtures thereof; and

c) at least one of K, Cs, Sc, Y, Ti, Zr, V, Mo, Re, Fe, Ru, Co, Ir, Pd, Cd, In, Ge, Sn, Pb, Sb, Te, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, their oxides and mixtures thereof, and

wherein the water gas shift catalyst contains between about 0.01 wt. % and about 10 wt. % Fe whenever Fe is present in the water gas shift catalyst.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the CO-containing gas is a syngas.

3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the water gas shift catalyst comprises:

a) Pt, its oxides or mixtures thereof;

b) at least one of Cu, Ag, Au, their oxides and mixtures thereof; and

c) at least one of Ti, Zr, Fe, Ru, Ir, Pd, their oxides and mixtures thereof.

4. A method according to claim 3 , wherein the water gas shift catalyst further comprises Rh, its oxides or mixtures thereof.

5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the water gas shift catalyst comprises:

a) Ni, its oxides or mixtures thereof;

b) at least one of Cu, Au, their oxides and mixtures thereof; and

c) at least one of Fe, Co, Cd, In, Ge, Sn, Pb, Te, their oxides and mixtures thereof.

6. A method according to claim 5 , further comprising at least one of Mn, Cr, their oxides and mixtures thereof.

7. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the water gas shift catalyst comprises:

a) Rh, its oxides or mixtures thereof;

b) at least one of Cu, Ag, Au, their oxides and mixtures thereof; and

c) at least one of Ti, Fe, Co, Ge, Sn, Sb, Ce, their oxides and mixtures thereof.

8. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the water gas shift catalyst comprises:

a) Pt, its oxides or mixtures thereof;

b) Rh, its oxides or mixtures thereof;

c) at least one member selected from the group consisting of Cu, Ag, Au, their oxides and mixtures thereof; and

d) at least one member selected from the group consisting of Y, V, Mo, Re, Fe, Ge, Sn, Sb, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, their oxides and mixtures thereof.

9. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the water gas shift catalyst comprises:

a) at least one member selected from the group consisting of Rh, Ni, Pt, their oxides and mixtures thereof;

b) Cu, its oxides or mixtures thereof; and

c) at least one member selected from the group consisting of Ge, Sn, Sb, their oxides and mixtures thereof.

10. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the water gas shift catalyst comprises:

a) Pt, its oxides or mixtures thereof;

b) Au, its oxides or mixtures thereof; and

c) Ti, its oxides or mixtures thereof.

11. A method according to claim 10 , wherein the water gas shift catalyst further comprises:

Rh, its oxides or mixtures thereof.

12. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the water gas shift catalyst comprises:

a) Pt, its oxides or mixtures thereof;

b) Au, its oxides or mixtures thereof; and

c) Ir, its oxides or mixtures thereof.

13. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the water gas shift catalyst comprises:

a) Pt, its oxides or mixtures thereof;

b) at least one member selected from the group consisting of Cu, Ag, Au their oxides and mixtures thereof; and

c) Pd, its oxides or mixtures thereof.

14. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the water gas shift catalyst comprises:

a) Rh, its oxides or mixtures thereof; and

b) at least one member selected from the group consisting of Cu, Ag, Au, their oxides and mixtures thereof; and

c) at least one member selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, Ge, Sn, Sb, their oxides and mixtures thereof.

15. A method according to claim 14 , wherein the water gas shift catalyst further comprises Pt, its oxides or mixtures thereof.

16. A method according to any one of claim 14 or 15 , wherein the water gas shift catalyst comprises at least two members selected from the group consisting of Fe, Ge, Sb, their oxides and mixtures thereof.

17. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the water gas shift catalyst is supported on a carrier comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of alumina, zirconia, titania, ceria, magnesia, lanthania, niobia, yttria, zeolite, perovskite, silica clay, and iron oxide and mixtures thereof.

18. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the carrier comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of zirconia, titania and ceria.

19. A method according to claim 18 , wherein the carrier comprises zirconia.

20. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the CO-containing gas is contacted with the water gas shift catalyst at a temperature ranging from about 150° C. to about 450° C.

21. A method according to claim 20 , wherein the CO-containing gas is contacted with a water gas shift catalyst at a temperature ranging from more than about 350° C. to up to about 450° C.

22. A method according to claim 20 , wherein the CO-containing gas is contacted with a water gas shift catalyst at a temperature ranging from about 250° C. to up to about 350° C.

23. A method according to claim 20 , wherein the CO-containing gas is contacted with a water gas shift catalyst at a temperature ranging from about 150° C. to up to about 250° C.

24. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the CO-containing gas is contacted with the water gas shift catalyst at a pressure of no more than about 75 bar.

25. A method according to claim 24 , wherein the CO-containing gas is contacted with the water gas shift catalyst at a pressure of no more than about 50 bar.

26. A method according to claim 24 , wherein the CO-containing gas is contacted with the water gas shift catalyst at a pressure of no more than about 25 bar.

27. A method according to claim 24 , wherein the CO-containing gas is contacted with the water gas shift catalyst at a pressure of no more than about 15 bar.

28. A method according to claim 24 , wherein the CO-containing gas is contacted with the water gas shift catalyst at a pressure of no more than about 1 bar.

29. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the water gas shift catalyst comprises about 0.01 wt. % to about 10 wt. %, with respect to the total weight of all catalyst components plus the support material, of each Group 8, 9, or 10 element present in the water gas shift catalyst.

30. A method according to claim 29 , wherein the water gas shift catalyst comprises about 0.01 wt. % to about 2 wt. % of each Group 8, 9, or 10 element present in the water gas shift catalyst.

31. A method according to claim 30 , wherein the water gas shift catalyst comprises about 0.05 wt. % to about 0.5 wt. % of each Group 8, 9, or 10 element present in the water gas shift catalyst.

32. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the water gas shift catalyst comprises about 0.05 wt. % to about 5 wt. %, with respect to the total weight of all catalyst components plus the support material, of each Group 11 element present in the water gas shift catalyst.

33. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the water gas shift catalyst comprises about 0.05 wt. % to about 20 wt. %, with respect to the total weight of all catalyst components plus the support material, of each lanthanide element present in the water gas shift catalyst.

34. A method for producing a hydrogen-rich gas which comprises:

contacting CO-containing gas with a water gas shift catalyst in the presence of water at a temperature of not more than about 450° C.,

wherein the water gas shift catalyst comprises:

a) Rh, its oxides or mixtures thereof;

b) Pt, its oxides or mixtures thereof; and

c) Ag, its oxides or mixtures thereof wherein the water gas shift catalyst contains between about 0.01 wt. % and about 10 wt. % Fe whenever Fe is present in the water gas shift catalyst.

35. A method according to claim 34 , wherein the water gas shift catalyst further comprises:

at least one of K, Cs, Sc, Y, Ti, Zr, V, Mo, Re, Fe, Ru, Co, Ir, Pd, Cd, In, Ge, Sn, Sb, Te, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, their oxides and mixtures thereof.

36. A catalyst for catalyzing the water gas shift reaction comprising:

at least one member selected from the group consisting of Rh, Ni, Pt, their oxides and mixtures thereof;

at least one member selected from the group consisting of Cu, Ag, Au, their oxides and mixtures thereof; and

at least one member selected from the group consisting of K, Cs, Sc, Y, Ti, Zr, V, Mo, Re, Fe, Ru, Co, Ir, Pd, Cd, In, Ge, Sn, Pb, Sb, Te, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, their oxides and mixtures thereof, and

wherein the catalyst contains between about 0.01 wt. % and about 10 wt. % Fe whenever Fe is present in the catalyst.

37. A catalyst according to claim 36 comprising:

Pt, its oxides or mixtures thereof;

at least one member selected from the group consisting of Cu, Ag, Au, their oxides and mixtures thereof; and

at least one member selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, Fe, Ru, Ir, Pd, their oxides and mixtures thereof.

38. A catalyst according to claim 37 , wherein the catalyst further comprises Rh, its oxides or mixtures thereof.

39. A catalyst according to claim 36 comprising:

Ni, its oxides or mixtures thereof;

at least one member selected from the group consisting of Cu, Au, their oxides and mixtures thereof; and

at least one member selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, Cd, In, Ge, Sn, Pb, Te, their oxides and mixtures thereof.

40. A catalyst according to claim 39 , wherein the catalyst further comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of Mn, Cr, their oxides and mixtures thereof.

41. A catalyst according to claim 36 comprising:

Rh, its oxides or mixtures thereof;

at least one member selected from the group consisting of Cu, Ag, Au, their oxides and mixtures thereof; and

at least one member selected from the group consisting of Ti, Fe, Co, Ge, Sn, Sb, Ce, their oxides and mixtures thereof.

42. A catalyst according to claim 36 comprising:

Pt, its oxides or mixtures thereof;

Rh, its oxides or mixtures thereof;

at least one member selected from the group consisting of Cu, Ag, Au, their oxides and mixtures thereof; and

at least one member selected from the group consisting of Y, V, Mo, Re, Fe, Ge, Sn, Sb, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, their oxides and mixtures thereof.

43. A catalyst according to claim 36 comprising:

at least one member selected from the group consisting of Rh, Ni, Pt, their oxides and mixtures thereof;

Cu, its oxides or mixtures thereof; and

at least one member selected from the group consisting of Ge, Sn, Sb, their oxides and mixtures thereof.

44. A catalyst according to claim 36 comprising:

Pt, its oxides or mixtures thereof;

Au, its oxides or mixtures thereof; and

Ti, its oxides or mixtures thereof.

45. A catalyst according to claim 36 comprising:

Pt, its oxides or mixtures thereof;

Au, its oxides or mixtures thereof; and

Ir, its oxides or mixtures thereof.

46. A catalyst according to claim 36 comprising:

Pt, its oxides or mixtures thereof;

at least one member selected from the group consisting of Cu, Ag, Au, their oxides and mixtures thereof; and

Pd, its oxides or mixtures thereof.

47. A catalyst according to claim 46 , further comprising Rh, its oxides or mixtures thereof.

48. A catalyst according to claim 36 comprising:

Rh, its oxides or mixtures thereof; and

at least one member selected from the group consisting of Cu, Ag, Au, their oxides and mixtures thereof; and

at least one member selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, Ge, Sn, Sb, their oxides and mixtures thereof.

49. A catalyst according to claim 48 , wherein the catalyst further comprises Pt, its oxides or mixtures thereof.

50. A catalyst according to any one of claims 48 or 49 , wherein the catalyst further comprises at least two members selected from the group consisting of Fe, Ge, Sb, their oxides and mixtures thereof.

51. A catalyst according to claim 36 , wherein the catalyst composition is supported on a carrier comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of alumina, zirconia, titania, ceria, magnesia, lanthania, niobia, yttria, zeolite, perovskite, silica clay, and iron oxide and mixtures thereof.

52. A catalyst according to claim 36 , wherein the carrier comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of zirconia, titania and ceria.

53. A catalyst according to claim 52 , wherein the carrier comprises zirconia.

54. A catalyst according to claim 36 , wherein the water gas shift catalyst comprises about 0.01 wt. % to about 10 wt. %, with respect to the total weight of all catalyst components plus the support material, of each Group 8, 9, or 10 element present in the water gas shift catalyst.

55. A catalyst according to claim 54 , wherein the water gas shift catalyst comprises about 0.01 wt. % to about 2 wt. % of each Group 8, 9, or 10 element present in the water gas shift catalyst.

56. A catalyst according to claim 55 , wherein the water gas shift catalyst comprises about 0.05 wt. % to about 0.5 wt. % of each Group 8, 9, or 10 element present in the water gas shift catalyst.

57. A catalyst according to claim 36 , wherein the water gas shift catalyst comprises about 0.05 wt. % to about 5 wt. %, with respect to the total weight of all catalyst components plus the support material, of each Group 11 element present in the water gas shift catalyst.

58. A catalyst according to claim 36 , wherein the water gas shift catalyst comprises about 0.05 wt. % to about 20 wt. %, with respect to the total weight of all catalyst components plus the support material, of each lanthanide element present in the water gas shift catalyst.

59. A catalyst for catalyzing the water gas shift reaction comprising:

a) Rh, its oxides or mixtures thereof;

b) Pt, its oxides or mixtures thereof; and

c) Ag, its oxides or mixtures thereof wherein the water gas shift catalyst contains between about 0.01 wt. % and about 10 wt. % Fe whenever Fe is present in the water gas shift catalyst.

60. A catalyst according to claim 59 , wherein the water gas shift catalyst further comprises:

at least one of K, Cs, Sc, Y, Ti, Zr, V, Mo, Re, Fe, Ru, Co, Ir, Pd, Cd, In, Ge, Sn, Sb, Te, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, their oxides and mixtures thereof.

61. A catalyst according to claim 60 , wherein the water gas shift catalyst comprises about 0.05 wt. % to about 10 wt. %, with respect to the total weight of all catalyst components plus the support material, of each Group 8, 9, or 10 element present in the water gas shift catalyst.

62. A catalyst according to claim 61 , wherein the water gas shift catalyst comprises about 0.10 wt. % to about 10 wt. % of each Group 8, 9, or 10 element present in the water gas shift catalyst.

63. A catalyst according to claim 62 , wherein the water gas shift catalyst comprises about 0.50 wt. % to about 5 wt. % of each Group 8, 9, or 10 element present in the water gas shift catalyst.

64. A catalyst according to claim 60 , wherein the water gas shift catalyst comprises about 0.05 wt. % to about 20 wt. %, with respect to the total weight of all catalyst components plus the support material, of each lanthanide element present in the water gas shift catalyst.

65. A catalyst according to any one of claims 59 or 60 , wherein the catalyst composition is supported on a carrier comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of alumina, zirconia, titania, ceria, magnesia, lanthania, niobia, yttria, zeolite, perovskite, silica clay, and iron oxide and mixtures thereof.

66. A catalyst according to claim 65 , wherein the carrier comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of zirconia, titania and ceria.

67. A catalyst according to claim 66 , wherein the carrier comprises zirconia.

68. A catalyst according to claim 59 , wherein the water gas shift catalyst comprises about 0.05 wt. % to about 5 wt. %, with respect to the total weight of all catalyst components plus the support material, of each Group 11 element present in the water gas shift catalyst.

69. A fuel processing system for generation of a hydrogen-rich gas from a hydrocarbon or substituted hydrocarbon fuel, the fuel processing system comprising

a fuel reformer for converting a fuel reactant stream comprising a hydrocarbon or a substituted hydrocarbon fuel to a reformed product stream comprising carbon monoxide and water, the fuel reformer having an inlet for receiving the reactant stream, a reaction chamber for converting the reactant stream to the product stream, and an outlet for discharging the product stream,

a water gas shift reactor for effecting a water gas shift reaction at a temperature of less than about 450° C., the water gas shift reactor comprising an inlet for receiving a water gas shift feed stream comprising carbon monoxide and water from the product stream of the fuel reformer, a reaction chamber comprising a water gas shift catalyst selected from any one of the catalysts of claim 36 , the water gas shift catalyst being effective for generating hydrogen and carbon dioxide from the water gas shift feed stream, and an outlet for discharging the resulting hydrogen-rich gas, and

a temperature controller adapted for maintaining the temperature of the reaction chamber of the water gas shift reactor at a temperature of less than about 450° C.