Supported nickel catalysts with different supports (MgO, SiO2, Al2O3, MgAlO and SiAlO) were prepared by the co-precipitation method and dried in n-butanol. Nickel was found to be relatively easier to reduce in Ni/MgO and Ni/SiO2 than in Ni/Al2O3, while nickel was higher dispersed in Ni/SiO2 than in Ni/Al2O3 and Ni/MgO. Thus, the reducibility and dispersion of nickel in Ni/MgAlO and Ni/SiAlO were significantly enhanced, leading to the high active nickel surface areas (75 m2/g-catalyst). Acetonitrile was found to be adsorbed on the reduced nickel and acidic sites.