Methane oxidation catalyst and a method of making and using thereof

A methane oxidation catalyst, comprising:

• multi-crystalline zirconia, wherein said multi-crystalline zirconia includes less than 75 wt. % monoclinic zirconia and more than 10 wt. % tetragonal zirconia, based on the total weight of said multi-crystalline zirconia, and wherein multi-crystalline zirconia comprises a weight ratio of tetragonal zirconia-to-monoclinic zirconia in the range of from 1:1 to 31:1;
• a platinum component;
• a ruthenium component, present in said methane oxidation catalyst in an amount at least 2 wt. % up to 20 wt. %, based on the ruthenium as metal regardless of its actual form and the total weight of said methane oxidation catalyst;
• and
• a chlorine component, wherein said chlorine component is present in said methane oxidation catalyst in an amount in the range of from 0.01 to 5 wt. %;
• wherein the platinum component, the ruthenium component, and the chlorine component are supported on the multi-crystalline zirconia support.