To utilize a larger fraction of the worlds natural gas reserves it would be beneficial to be able to convert it to liquid fuels at the site. However, direct conversion has not yet yielded a feasible route and conversion to syngas followed by methanol or Fischer-Tropsch synthesis is the preferred method. The method of syngas production thus becomes important. One technology that has promise for small scale applications such as remote gas fields is catalytic partial oxidation over noble metal catalysts due its short residence time.

In this work we will present spatial profiles of methane on Rh catalysts at elevated pressure. These profiles have a resolution of 300µm of the species and temperature development through the catalyst. The temperatures show a maximum at the inlet of the catalyst and the oxygen is converted in ~2mm, this is followed by a longer zone where steam reforming is taking place. The experiments will investigate the effect of pressure and residence time.