Partial oxidation of methane to produce syngas over a neodymium–calcium cobaltate-based catalyst

•A catalytic activity of NdCaCoO4 in POM reaction was investigated.•A decomposition of NdCaCoO4 at POM conditions results in the formation of finely dispersed Nd2O3, CaO and Co particles.•The NdCaCoO4-derived catalyst showed conversion of CH4 and selectivity of CO and H2 higher than 90%.•No activity and selectivity decrease was observed for 140 h of POM reaction.

Synthesis gas production by partial oxidation of methane (POM) (CH4/O2 = 1.8–4.5/1) at 850–960 °C over NdCaCoO3.96 was investigated using a fixed bed flow-type reactor. The NdCaCoO3.96-derived catalyst demonstrated conversion of CH4 and O2 up to 90% while CO and H2 selectivities were over 90% at a H2/CO ratio ∼2. The decomposition of NdCaCoO3.96 at POM conditions results in the formation of finely dispersed Nd2O3, CaO, cobalt oxides and cobalt metal. The as-prepared catalyst exhibited excellent stability of the catalytic properties, and no activity decrease was observed for 140 h of reaction. Synthesis gas formation was accompanied by carbon deposition on the catalyst. However, this process has little or no influence on the catalytic properties of the material.

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