in deionized water at room temperature using a syringe with a 0.8 mm diameter needle. The microspheres of gel formed were kept under stirring in this solution for 18 h and then separated from the cationic solution and washed with deionized water. The hydrogel microspheres obtained were further immersed in a sequence of ethanol-water baths of increasing alcohol concentration (10%, 30%, 50%, 70%, 90% and 100%) for 30 min in each. Next, the titaniumalginate beads were dried at 40°C under reduced pressure and calcined at 500°C for 5 h in flowing air (5°C/min ramp). The resulting material was cooled down to room temperature and subsequently added to a 0.01 mol•L -1 solution of Ni(NO3)2 6•H2O in deionized water, following a ratio of 1 g of support for 17 mL of aqueous nickel solution. After 24 h under stirring, the solvent was removed in vacuo on rotatory evaporator, and the resulting solid was dried in 120°C for 2 h, calcined at 500°C in flowing air for 5 h (5°C/min ramp) and finally reduced in hydrogen flow for 1 h at a temperature ranging from 500°C to 700°C, with a 5°C/min ramp.