Partial oxidation of methane with nitrous oxide forms synthesis gas over cobalt exchanged ZSM-5

•Cobalt is loaded over ZSM-5 support.•Reactivity of CH4 with N2O over Co-ZSM-5 forms synthesis gas (CO + H2).•Co2 + sites are the proposed active sites for H2 formation (synthesis gas).

Synthesis gas (CO + H2) is a versatile and significant resource. In this communication we show that cobalt loaded on ZSM-5 (Co-ZSM-5) catalyses the formation of synthesis gas from CH4, under partial oxidation conditions using N2O as oxidant. With O2 as oxidant over the same Co-ZSM-5 catalyst, cobalt on alumina and Fe-ZSM-5, only COx and H2O are formed. Isolated Co2 + sites in the ZSM-5 support are proposed as the active sites for H2 (synthesis gas) formation.