The catalytic cracking of methane over nickel gauze is proposed as an attractive alternative for the prodn. of CO-free hydrogen. The catalyst deactivates due to intensive coke deposition. Therefore, the reactor was operated periodically with the reaction followed by the catalyst regeneration by burning of coke in oxidative atm. The optimal reaction performance was found to consist of reaction periods of 4 min followed by 4 min regeneration periods. [on SciFinder (R)]