Silicon carbide supported nickel catalysts for CO methanation were prepared by impregnation method. The activity of the catalysts was tested in a fixed-bed reactor with a stream of H-2/CO = 3 without diluent gas. The results show that 15 wt.% Ni/SiC catalyst calcined at 550 degrees C exhibits excellent catalytic activity. As compared with 15 wt.% Ni/TiO2 catalyst, the Ni/SiC catalyst shows higher activity and stability in the methanation reaction. The characterization results from X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy suggest that no obvious catalyst sintering has occurred in the Ni/SiC catalyst due to the excellent thermal stability and high heat conductivity of SiC. (c) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.