TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Composition: The noble metal is ruthenium.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Composition: The triaryl phosphine molecules are triaryl phosphine molecules having associated phenyl groups in which at least one phenyl group is sulfonated.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Composition: The polymer bound triphenyl phosphine is polymer bound triphenylphosphine-3,3',3"-trisulfonic acid trisodium salt. The polymer is polystyrene. The ruthenium complex is ruthenium bis(triphenylphosphine-3,3',3"-trisulfonic acid trisodium salt-polystyrene)tetrahydrate (Ru(H2O)4(PS-TPPTS)2) or ruthenium(triphenylphosphine-3,3',3"-trisulfonic acid trisodium salt-polystyrene)(triphenylphosphine-3,3',3"-trisulfonic acid trisodium salt)tetrahydrate (Ru(H2O)4(PS-TPPTS)(TPPTS)). The solid metal complex catalyst further comprises water and formic acid. Preferred Process: At least one of triaryl phosphine molecules is chemically bonded to polymer from at least one of ortho, meta and para position, preferably para position of its associated phenyl group to from rigid solid catalyst. The meta position of associated phenyl group of TPPTS molecule is sulfonated resulting in solid ruthenium catalyst being hydrophilic for efficient surface reaction. The sulfonated molecules are sodium salt. The solid metal complex is insoluble in water and formic acid. The chemically bound active ruthenium complex catalyst is inhibited from leaching out from reformer/reactor when wetted. Alternately, polymer bound heterogeneous solid metal complex catalyst is obtained by reacting polymer bound triaryl phosphine with fuming sulfuric acid, reacting obtained product with sodium hydroxide, obtaining polymer bonding triphenyl phosphine-sulfonic acid sodium salt, and reacting with noble metal reagent. Preferred Component: The polymer bound solid metal complex catalyst is in the form of molded product, powder, particles, sheets, rods, flakes, beads, tubes, blended polymers and blocks.