Catalytic Methanation of Methanol

To produce town gas catalytic methanation of methanol was investigated in the temperature range of 300—350°C. Nickel and alumina were excellent components of the catalyst. The catalysts containing 80wt% of nickel prepared by coprecipitation methods showed especially high activities at 300°C. The methanol conversion over the coprecipitated catalysts was dependent upon the size of the nickel crystallite, while the methane selectivities were not. The activity and selectivity of coprecipitated catalysts were steady during a 20hr-run and on addition of water to methanol.