The reaction performance for C2H6-O-2 to syngas over different supported metal catalysts was investigated in a flow-reactor. The activated behavior of ethane is different from that of methane over the supported nickel catalysts. Although there may exist a gas phase reaction at high temperatures, over a Ni (or Rh)/gamma -Al2O3 catalyst, the partial oxidation of ethane to syngas is a heterogeneous process, while over a Pt (or Pd)/gamma -Al2O3 catalyst, it may be a home-heterogeneous process. The Ni/gamma -Al2O3 and Rh/gamma -Al2O3 catalysts are suitable for partial oxidation of ethane to syngas at high temperatures.