Effect of nickel nanoparticle size in Ni/α-Al2O3 on CO methanation reaction for the production of synthetic natural gas

A series of α-Al2O3-supported Ni catalysts with different Ni particle sizes (5–10, 10–20, and 20–35 nm) were prepared and applied in the CO methanation reaction for the production of synthetic natural gas (SNG). The catalytic tests showed that the Ni nanoparticles influenced the catalytic performance in the CO methanation, and the catalyst with a Ni nanoparticle size of 10–20 nm showed the highest CO conversion, CH4 yield, and turnover frequency, and the lowest carbon deposition, demonstrating the possibility of improving the Ni/α-Al2O3 catalysts in the CO methanation for SNG production by controlling their Ni particle size.