This invention relates to the field of
methanation catalysts, disclosing a
methanation catalyst, its preparation method, and its applications. The method includes: reducing a
nickel precursor in the presence of water using a
reducing agent; then, in the presence of a protective agent, mixing the resulting reduction product with a dispersant and allowing it to stand and separate into
layers to form a layered liquid; wherein the protective agent is a hydrophobic
inert liquid; the layered liquid comprises an upper layer and a lower layer, the upper layer containing the protective agent, and the lower layer containing water and catalyst particles, the catalyst particles containing amorphous
nickel and the dispersant; adjusting the pH of the lower layer to 7-9, and then removing the water from the lower layer, so that the protective agent coats the catalyst particles. The
active component in this
methanation catalyst is amorphous
nickel, which, compared to catalysts with crystalline nickel as the
active component, improves the hydrogenation capacity of the
active component. Furthermore, this methanation catalyst is itself in a reduced state, requiring no reduction before use, making it more suitable for
slurry bed reactors.