Three Ru catalysts supported on SiO(2), ZrO(2)-SiO(2) and ZrO(2)-La(2)O(3) have been prepared, characterized and tested in the methane steam reforming (SR) reaction, and for comparative purposes a Ni/SiO(2) catalyst has also been studied. Conditions of catalytic studies have been selected for the subsequent application in a hydrogen extraction Pd membrane reactor. That is, reaction temperatures in the range of 400-550 degrees C and with different amounts of catalyst in order to work under and/or close to the equilibrium conversion conditions. All the supported Ru samples exhibit high catalytic activity and similar CO and H(2) yields. Finally these catalysts are fully stable under reaction conditions at 550 degrees C for 15 h, while the Ni/SiO(2) sample suffers a significant deactivation. The main deactivation process affecting this latter catalyst is the carbon deposition of partially dehydrogenated intermediates as detected by Raman spectroscopy. Hence, these Ru catalysts appear to be suitable for application combined with metallic (Pd) membrane. (C) 2011 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.