The partial oxidation of methane to synthesis gas has been studied over a platinum gauze catalyst. The experiments were carried out at atmospheric pressure with a single gauze in a quartz reactor heated in an electric furnace. The furnace temperature was varied in the range 200-900 degrees C and the space time in the range 0.00021-0.00042 s. The feed consisted of a mixture of CH4 : O-2 : Ar approximate to 2 : 1 : 10 and carbon oxides and water were the main products. Oxygen was only partly consumed and relatively small amounts of hydrogen were formed.