REFORMING CATALYST FOR FUEL CELL

PURPOSE:To obtain a reforming catalyst with high strength, excellent catalytic activity, and long life properties. CONSTITUTION:A reforming catalyst composed of a thin zirconia layer formed on the surface of spherical alpha-alumina carrier with thickness of 1/5-1/1 of the diameter of the carrier material and ruthenium as a catalytic metal carried on the zirconia layer has properties of both alumina having high mechanical strength and zirconia which shows excellent properties when it carries a catalytic metal, e.g. being catalytically active, precipitating carbon, etc. Consequently, even in the case a reaction tube of a reforming apparatus is filled with the reforming catalyst, rapidlly heated, and rapidlly cooled, due to high strength, the reforming catalyst is not press-destroyed and pulverized by thermal stress produced in the reaction tube and in addition since the thin zirconia layer formed on the surface of the alumina carrier carries ruthenium having excellent catalytic reaction activity and long life properties, the catalyst has excellent properties from every viewpoint of strength, catalytic activity, and life.