Patent ID: 7198862

Claim:
A multi-step process for preparing a low-sulfur reformate gas for use in a fuel cell system, said process comprising a) catalytic steam reforming of a reactant gas mixture, comprising sulfur-containing hydrocarbons and steam and characterized by a steam/carbon ratio, in a first step to make a reformate; b) reducing carbon monoxide content of the reformate in a second step; c) contacting the reformate with a sulfur absorber after the second step; and d) desorbing sulfur components, if any, absorbed on catalysts used in the first step and in the second step, by periodically raising temperature, so that the sulfur components are passed to the sulfur absorber, wherein the temperature of the absorber during operation of the process is always kept within a temperature interval in which the absorption capacity of the absorber for the sulfur components is at an optimum.