Desulfurization and in situ tar reduction within catalytic methanation of biogenous synthesis gas

► Ni-based catalysts can be used for methanation as well as to remove tars in the synthesis gas out of biomass gasifiers. ► In the present work, the influence of various factors on the deactivation of these catalysts is discussed. ► Besides the influence of temperature and flow-velocity in the gas-cleaning reactor, the effect of desulfurization is shown.