The kinetics of CH4 dissociation and CO disproportionation on cohered nickel catalysts and the contribution of La2O3 and CeO2 to the catalytic reactions were studied by the pulse-reaction-chromatograph technique. The activity of the catalysts was decreased by the carbon deposited on the surface of nickel. Satisfying results were obtained by introducing the carbon-deposition factor into the kinetic equations. Appropriate quantities of the oxide of rare earth metal added to the catalyst can reduce the activation energy of the reactions. The values are: 3% (mass)of both La2O3 and CeO2 for CO disproportionation;4.5%(mass)La2O3 and3%CeO2 for CH4 dissociation. The reduction of activation energy is within 44kJ/mol for CH4 and 33kJ/mol for CO when the oxide of rare earth metal is added to the catalysts in an amount of 0-6%(mass). According to the results of experiments

it is assumed that the dissociation of the first hydrogen atom from adsorbed CH4 is the rate controlling-step. The electric charge attraction between the rare earth metal oxide and adsorbed CH4 and nickel atoms causes the reduction of activation energy of the CH4 dissociation

while for the CO disproportionation

the reduction of activation energy results from the transfer of the lattice oxygen in the oxide of rare earth metal. The carbon formed in CO disproportionation shows relatively little

influence on the activity of the catalyst

because carbon is considered to be able to migrate from the nickel catalyst to the surface of catalyst support.