Patent ID: 7727509

Claim:
A process for reforming of hydrocarbons comprising the steps; (i) subjecting a gaseous mixture containing at least one hydrocarbon and steam to catalytic primary reforming at an elevated temperature in heat exchange reformer apparatus by passing said mixture through tubes containing a steam reforming catalyst to form a primary reformed gas, the exterior of said tubes being heated by a carbon-monoxide-containing heat exchange medium flowing through the shell side of said apparatus, and (ii) adding to said heat exchange medium before it enters said shell side, after the reforming step, a passivation compound to reduce the interaction between the carbon monoxide present in said heat exchange medium and metals in the shell side of said heat exchange reformer apparatus, said passivation compound containing at least one atom selected from the group consisting of phosphorus, tin, antimony, arsenic, lead, bismuth, copper, germanium, silver, and gold.