1.

Introduction

7

2.

Methanation in the production of SNG

12

2.1

Nickel

12

2.1.1

Raney nickel

12

2.1.2

Nickel – alumina

17

2.1.3

Nickel – chromia

20

2.1.4

Nickel – magnesium compounds

20

2.1.5

Nickel with rare earth elements

21

2.1.6

Nickel alloy catalysts

22

2.1.7

Other nickel catalysts

24

2.2

Cobalt

24

2.3

Iron

25

2.4

Ruthenium and the ‘noble’ Group VIII metals

25

2.5

Molybdenum and tungsten

28

2.6

Homogeneous catalysts

30

2.7

Intercalation

30

2.8

Catalyst supports

30

2.9

Catalyst characterization and testing

32

2.10

Mechanism

32

3.

Methanation for hydrogen purification

37

3.1

Nickel

37

3.2

Iron

38

3.3

Nickel-iron

39

3.4

Rhodium and ruthenium

39

4.

Conclusions

41

5.

References

43