Autothermal reforming (ATR) of kerosene for hydrogen production was performed on the MgAlOx-supported Rh catalysts at LHSV of 15-25, S/C of 2.5, O/C of 0.5, at 101 kPa. Sphere-shaped supports with high compressive ultimate strength (0.90 MPa) were obtained from MG-30 hydrotalcite core (similar to 3 mm) by thorough heat treatment before impregnation of rhodium. Rhodium was loaded by pore-filling impregnation selectively to the surface of the sphere-shaped supports, confirmed by electron probe microanalysis. Stability tests on the prepared catalysts were performed, focusing on the small amount of C-2-C-3 hydrocarbons, concentrations of which reflect the catalytic activity and stability; i.e., low rates of C-2-C-3 olefin formation correspond to high activity of the catalysts. The reactor was designed to measure temperature profiles and gas distributions within the reactor (inner diameter similar to 21.0 mm) and the catalyst bed (length 100 mm). The ATR reactions occur starting with an exothermic combustion of hydrocarbons, followed by an endothermic reforming. The maximum temperature reached similar to 1200 K at the inlet of the catalyst bed and decreased to similar to 1020 K towards the end of the catalyst bed. Among investigated catalysts, the catalysts treated in air at 1223 K gave the best performance for ATR of kerosene, giving H-2 production reaching 60% of the exit gas. The concentration of the main byproduct, C2H4, over the optimized catalyst was lower than 0.03% at the exit of the reactor for 50 h of the study. The catalyst showed high tolerance to coking and high stability even at LHSV of 25 and daily start-up and shut-clown (DSS) cycles, meeting practical requirements for the ATR catalysts. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.