PURIFYING METHOD OF HYDROGEN FOR FUEL CELL

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attain the high efficiency operation and the rapid cold start property of a high molecular electrolyte type fuel cell by using a catalyst previously pretreated with a gas consisting essentially of gaseous hydrogen in non contact with air in a method for removing carbon monoxide in gaseous hydrogen generated by reforming an organic compound by passing through an oxidation catalyst. SOLUTION: The hydrogen for fuel cell is purified by adding gaseous oxygen into the gaseous hydrogen produced by the reforming reaction of the organic compound and containing carbon monoxide to make a gaseous mixture and allowing the gaseous mixture to contact with the oxidation catalyst of carbon monoxide to remove carbon monoxide. At that time, the catalyst is previously treated in the gas consisting essentially of hydrogen and then brought into reaction in non-contact with air. The pretreating temp. is preferably >=50 deg.C. The oxidation catalyst of carbon monoxide is preferably ruthenium and the reaction temp. is equal to or higher than the atmospheric temp. The steam content in the gaseous mixture is below saturated vapor pressure at the temp. of the catalyst and is preferably <50%.