Abstract: The conditions for catalyst preparation and coupling reaction of methane were investigated. The experimental results showed that under the catalysts the selectivity for C₂ formation may reach 98.5% and the yield 28.2% (the average within the first 30 minutes). A stale selectivity and yield for C₂ formation obtained after reaction for 2h were 48.4% and 20.6%, respectively. Some kinetic parameters were also determined, including activation energy and the partial pressure dependence of the catalytic reaction rates. Finally a preliminary explanation of the reaction mechanism is suggested.

Key words: Oxidative coupling, Li-Ce-SrO catalyst