Magnetic and catalytic properties of sintered nickel catalysts for the methanation reaction

Ni catalysts supported on Al2O3, as received commercially and subjected to sintering at 723–973 K, were characterised in terms of distinct magnetic structures. It was found that the Ni on all the catalysts consisted of a mixture of single domain structures, with and without anisotropic effects, and multidomain (ferromagnetic) structures. The formation of the multidomain particles during the sintering process coincides with a decrease in catalytic activity for the reaction CO+3H2°CH4+H2O. From this study it was concluded that the methanation reaction is ‘magnetic-structure’ sensitive.