Summary:Steam-reforming of n-heptane on rhodium catalysts was investigated under atRhodium supported on silica was found to sinter considerably on reduction in hydrogen flow,The activity per weight of a catalyst increased with the concentration of rhodium supported composition determined by the following two reactions: i) CH4+H2O=CO+3H2, and ii) CO+H2O=CO2+H2.The composition was found to deviate considerably from the equilibrium at earlier stages of the reaction, but to approach it with increasing conversion of n-heptane. It was suggested that the rate of these equilibrating reactions, especially of the reaction ii), was smaller than that of the initial decomposition of the feed hydrocarbon.