In this study, NiMo alloys supported on MO2C are synthesized by wet impregnation for partial oxidation of methyl oleate, a surrogate biodiesel, to produce syngas. When compared to single phase Mo2C, the H-2 yield increases from 70% up to >95% at the carbon conversion of similar to 100% for NiMo alloy nanoparticles that are dispersed over the Mo2C surface. Supported NiMo alloy samples are prepared at two different calcination temperatures in order to determine its effect on particle dispersion, crystalline phase and catalytic properties. The reforming test data indicate that catalyst prepared at lower calcination temperature shows better nanoparticle dispersion over the MO2C surface, which leads to higher initial performance when compared to catalysts synthesized at higher calcination temperature. Activity tests using the supported NiMo alloy on MO2C that are calcined at the lower temperature of 400 degrees C shows 100% carbon conversion with 90% H-2 yield without deactivation due to coking over 24 h time-on-stream. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.