Precious metal catalysts (Ir, Pd, Pt, Rh and Ru) supported on Al2O3 and Ru catalysts on CeO2, La2O3, MgO, Nb2O5, Ta2O5, TiO2, V2O5 and ZrO2 were investigated for water gas shift reaction of reformed gas. Ru/V2O3 catalyst reduced at 400 degreesC in H demonstrated the highest activity for the shift reaction without producing methane. The activities for the shift reaction over Ru catalysts supported on different oxides were not correlated with BET surface area or Ru dispersion, but the activity depended on the chemical character of oxide supports. The catalyst supported on a strongly basic or acid oxide is not effective for the shift reaction. In the same series of catalysts like Ru/V2O3, the activity systematically changed with BET surface area and Ru dispersion. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.