Catalysts composed of NiO/Y2O3/ZrO2 mixtures were synthesized by the polymerization method in a single step. They were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), temperature-programmed reduction (TPR), physisorption of N-2 (BET) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and then tested in the oxidative reforming of a model biogas (1.5CH(4):1CO(2)) in the presence of oxygen (1.5CH(4) + 1CO(2) + 0.25O(2)) at 750 degrees C for 6 h. It was observed that the catalysts Ni20YZ and Ni40YZ performed better in catalytic processes than NiO/ZrO2 and NiO/Y2O3, synthesized under the same conditions. The formation of Y2O3-ZrO2 and NiO-Y2O3 solid solutions increased the rates of conversion of the reactants (CH4 and CO2) into synthesis gas (H-2 + CO). The formation of oxygen vacancies (in samples containing ZrO2 and Y2O3) seemed to promote removal of the coke deposited on the nickel surface during the oxidative reforming of model biogas. The H-2/CO ratios in the reaction products formed on the best catalysts were 1:1, which is desirable for their direct use in the STD and in the Fischer-Tropsch processes. (c) 2013 Published by Elsevier B.V.