Patent ID: 7556872

Claim:
A process for producing hydrogen, comprising: desulfurizing a hydrocarbon fuel by contacting the hydrocarbon fuel to an adsorbent comprising cerium oxide, primary particles of the cerium oxide having a mean crystallite size of 10 nm or less; and subsequently reforming the desulfurized fuel by bringing the desulfurized fuel into contact with a catalyst comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of a partial-oxidation reforming catalyst, an autothermal reforming catalyst, and a steam reforming catalyst; wherein: neither hydrogen nor oxygen is added while desulfurizing the hydrocarbon fuel; and the cerium oxide is a cerium oxide that has been calcined at a temperature of from 120 to 400° C., the cerium oxide being selected from the group consisting of cerium oxide alone, cerium oxide carried on a porous refractory carrier comprising alumina or zirconia, and cerium oxide carrying at least one metal selected from the group consisting of silver, copper, nickel, iron and manganese.