Catalytic partial oxidation of methane on platinum investigated by spatial reactor profiles, spatially resolved spectroscopy, and microkinetic modeling

► Catalytic partial oxidation of methane was studied on Pt foam catalysts. ► Species and temperature profiles were measured through the foam and correlated with spatially resolved Raman spectroscopy and electron microscopy. ► Carbon deposits form and block Pt sites at low O2 mol fraction leading to decreased reaction rates (cp. Graphical ). ► Pt is lost from the hot oxidation zone and deposited in the colder reforming zone. ► Species profiles were modeled with two microkinetic mechanisms and a pseudo-2D heterogeneous reactor model.