PARTIAL OXIDATION OF METHANE OVER RUTHENIUM CATALYSTS

The catalytic partial oxidation of methane with oxygen to produce synt hesis gas was studied under a wide range of conditions over supported ruthenium catalysts. The microreactor results demonstrated the high ac tivity of ruthenium catalysts for this reaction. A catalyst having as little as 0.015% (w/w) Ru on Al2O3 gave a higher synthesis gas selecti vity than a catalyst having 5% Ni on SiO2. XANES measurements for fres h and used catalyst samples confirmed that ruthenium is reduced from r uthenium dioxide to ruthenium metal early during the experiments. Ruth enium metal is thus the active element for the methane partial oxidati on reaction.