Partial oxidation of n-heptane to syngas at 400-450degreesC was investigated over Rh and Rh-Ni based catalysts. The Rh/gamma-Al2O3 catalyst exhibited much better catalytic activity than the Rh-Ni/gamma-Al2O3 catalyst. A combination of the Rh-based catalyst with the WGS reaction catalyst (Fe3O4-Cr2O3) increases the hydrogen selectivity but has no distinct effect on shifting the balance of the partial oxidation of n-heptane.