Abstract Deactivation of Ni-based catalysts was investigated during CO methanation over different supported catalysts. X-ray diffraction and temperature-programmed hydrogenation analyses were used to investigate nickel particle sintering and carbon formation during the first 24 h on stream. Titania-supported catalysts presented high resistance towards carbon deposition and nickel particle growth in comparison with the other tested catalysts. Particle size effects on these two deactivation causes were also evaluated. It was shown that carbon formation rates are higher on bigger crystal particles. However, it was found that titania-supported nickel catalysts reduced at high temperatures show the opposite effect. This difference is most probably due to a stronger interaction between nickel and TiO x ( x