The catalytic oxidation of methane, ethane and propane on a Pt/delta-Al2O3 catalyst has been studied as part of the design of an autothermal reactor in which exothermic oxidation and endothermic steam reforming are combined. Light-off temperatures and the kinetics of oxidation of the hydrocarbons have been determined. The power rate law kinetics are found to approximate to first order in hydrocarbon and to show a negative order with respect to oxygen. The dependence of rate on oxygen pressure has been shown to be non-monotonic. The kinetics of methane oxidation is best described by a Langmuir-Hinshelwood model in which molecular adsorbed hydrocarbon reacts with adsorbed atomic oxygen. Pt-based catalysts are shown to be more active than Ni-based catalysts for hydrocarbon oxidation.