Partial Oxidation of Methane to Synthesis Gas Over Ru-Loaded Y2O3 Catalyst

Ru-loaded Y₂O₃ catalyst was investigated for the partial oxidation of methane to synthesis gas. Ru(0.5 wt%)/Y₂O₃ catalyst afforded a high CH₄ conversion of 27% at a CH₄:O₂ ratio of 5 to give nearly a 1:2 ratio of CO and H₂ with a selectivity of 75% at 873 K. Ru(0.5 wt%)/Y₂O₃ catalyst maintained high catalytic activity over 10 h in the partial oxidation of methane. Carbon deposition of the catalyst surface in the reaction of CH₄ was examined by thermogravimetric analyses, and it was found that no carbon deposition occurred on the Ru(0.5 wt%)/Y₂O₃ catalyst. The synthesis-gas production proceeded basically via a two-step reaction consisting of methane combustion to give H₂O and CO₂, followed by the reforming of methane from CO₂ and steam.