Synthesis, characterisation and performance evaluation of spinel-derived Ni/Al 2 O 3 catalysts for various methane reforming reactions

•Nickel aluminate catalysts were prepared by co-precipitation and co-dissolution.•The influence of the preparation method on the Ni distribution was discussed.•Well dispersed and homogeneous Ni was obtained on the co-precipitated NiAl2O4.•This sample exhibited a high activity for various methane reforming reactions.•The catalytic behaviour was controlled by Ni particle size and surface acid density.