| abstract |
In a process for forming a methane-enriched fuel, a hydrocarbon feedstock that includes hydrocarbons having molecular weights greater than that of methane (CH 4 ) is mixed with an oxidizable gaseous reactant that includes water (H 2 O) and is free of molecular oxygen (O 2 ). The mixture, which has a H 2 O/total hydrocarbon (H 2 O/C) ratio of less than about 1, is heated to an elevated temperature in the presence of a catalyst to form a methane-enriched pre-reformate product. At least a portion of the feedstock hydrocarbons having molecular weights greater than that of methane is converted to methane (CH 4 ) in the process. |