Metal-doped nickel oxides as catalysts for the methanation of carbon monoxide

Abstract

The invention relates to catalysts for the methanation of carbon monoxide, which comprise metal-doped nickel oxide of the composition (in mol %) (M1)a(M2)bNicOxwhere a=0.1 to 5 mol %, b=3 to 20 mol % and c=100−(a+b) mol % and M1 comprises at least one metal of transition group VII or VIII of the PTE (=Periodic Table of the Elements) and M2 comprises at least one metal of transition group III or IV of the PTE. The catalysts can be used as pure catalysts or as supported catalysts, if appropriate applied as coatings to an inert support body. They display high conversion and high selectivity and are used in methanation processes of CO in hydrogen-containing gas mixtures, in particular in reformates for operation of fuel cells. The catalysts of the invention can be prepared by precipitation, impregnation, sol-gel methods, sintering processes or by powder synthesis.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.