Ruthenium (IV) oxide – alumina catalyst was active for SCWG of both biogenic and plastic-rich MSW fractions.
New insights into the catalytic reaction mechanisms of RuO2 are provided.
Possible reaction mechanisms include redox steam reforming, water–gas shift, methanation and direct C–C hydrogenolysis.
Re-oxidation via calcination in air was required for the regeneration of the ruthenium-based catalyst.