A comprehensive review on steam reforming of liquid hydrocarbon fuels: Research advances and Prospects

Liquid hydrocarbon fuels (LHFs) possessing the features of high energy density, large content of hydrogen volume and convenient storage and transportation have received great attention in hydrogen production, fuel cell, and national defense weapon application. However, the efficiency of LHF conversion is still far from satisfying at present, especially suffering from low conversion of the reaction and quick deactivation of the catalyst. The synthesis of robust and low-price catalysts is crucial for LHF conversion. Recently, significant progress has been achieved in regulating the composition, structure, and active site of catalyst and understanding the structure–activity relationship. At first, this review discusses the mechanism of LHF steam reforming (SR), defines the main problems faced by the current reactions and catalysts to guide the design and development of high-performance catalysts. Then, recent progress in the development of catalysts for SR of LHFs is systematically summarized, including gasoline, kerosene, diesel, tar and sulfur containing hydrocarbon fuel. Thereafter, the relevant applications of LHF SR are highlighted, including hydrogen production, fuel cell, and engine thermal management. Finally, several enhancement technologies for SR process are described, including plasma reforming, chemical looping reforming, adsorption enhanced reforming and reaction separation coupling reforming technology. The advantage and disadvantage of various technologies are explained, and the enhanced conversion of LHF is expected to be realized through the construction of high-efficient catalysts coupling of enhancement technology and unique reactor. We hope that this review can provide the relevant guidance and new ideas for the technological development of hydrogen production, fuel cell, and engineering thermal management via SR of LHFs.