Catalyst comprising nickel supported on tantalum oxide or niobium oxide and their use as hydrocarbon synthesis catalysts in CO/H.sub.2 reactions

A process for the enhanced synthesis of paraffinic hydrocarbons of from 2 to 6 carbon atoms inclusive with reduced production of methane comprising the steps of passing H.sub.2 and CO in an H.sub.2 /CO mole ratio of from about 0.1 to about 10 over a catalyst reduced at a temperature of at least 375.degree. C. comprising nickel on a tantalum or niobium-containing oxide support wherein said tantalum or niobium-containing oxide support is selected from the group consisting of tantalum oxides, niobium oxides, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 -Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 -Nb.sub.2 O.sub.5, SiO.sub.2 -Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5, SiO.sub.2 -Nb.sub.2 O.sub.5, Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5 -carbon, Nb.sub.2 O.sub.5 -carbon, alkaline earth-tantalum oxides, alkaline earth-niobium oxides, alkali-tantalum oxides, alkali-niobium oxides, rare earth-tantalum oxides, rare earth-niobium oxides, Group IVb-tantalum oxides, Group IVb-niobium oxides, and mixtures thereof, at a space velocity of from about 100 hr.sup.-1 to about 50,000 hr.sup.-1, at a temperature of from about 100.degree. C. to about 500.degree. C., at a pressure of from about 100 to about 1.times.10.sup.5 kPa, for a time sufficient to effect the generation of the desired paraffinic product, wherein the concentration of said nickel in said catalyst is from about 0.01 to about 75 wt. %.