Patent ID: 8043530

Claim:
A method for producing a hydrogen-containing reformate which comprises contacting a hydrocarbon fuel with a two-stage catalyst, contained within a reactor vessel having an inlet for fuel and an outlet for product reformate, which comprises a first stage, which is disposed proximate said inlet of said vessel, comprising a substrate having disposed thereon a composition consisting of a carrier and Pt, a second stage, which is disposed proximate to said outlet of said vessel, comprising Ni with Ir, Pd, or a combination thereof, and optionally Rh, wherein said Rh, if present, is in an amount not exceeding about 0.5 wt %, based on the total combined weight of said metals and said carrier, said Ni is present in an amount of about 0.1 wt % to about 20 wt %, based on the total weight of said metals and said carrier; and said are Ir, Pd, or the combination thereof present in an amount of about 0.1 wt % to about 10 wt %, based on the total weight of said metals and said carrier; and conducting catalytic partial oxidation (POX), steam reforming (SR) or autothermal reforming (ATR) to give the hydrogen-containing reformate which has a high hydrogen content of greater than 20% H 2 by volume.