Beierlein, DennisHäussermann, DorotheaTraa, YvonneKlemm, Elias2023-04-112023-04-1120211011-372X1572-879X1843323915http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bsz:93-opus-ds-129488http://elib.uni-stuttgart.de/handle/11682/12948http://dx.doi.org/10.18419/opus-12929We developed a rapid aging method for Ni/Al2O3 methanation catalysts mimicking the real aging in the actual application. The method is based on hydrothermal deactivation of the catalyst at 600 or 700 °C, which leads to a catalyst with nearly constant conversion after a much shorter time period compared to normal aging. The hydrothermally aged catalysts are characterized by N2 adsorption, X-ray powder diffraction, temperature-programmed reduction and H2 chemisorption. The catalytic performance of the aged catalysts is comparable to the one of a catalyst deactivated in a long-term measurement with up to 720 h on stream. The time needed for reaching a stable conversion can be diminished by rapid aging by a factor of 10. The investigations also showed that the long-term deactivation is caused by Ni particle sintering and that the support pores limit the Ni particle size.eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccesshttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/540article2023-03-25