Abstract: The kinetic study on the oxidative coupling of methane over the La-Ba-Na-O catalyst showed that the formation rates of ethane and ethylene were nearly the first order with respect to the partial pressure of methane and zero order to that of oxygen, while the formation rate of carbon dioxide was nearly zero order and the first order with respect to the partial pressures of methane and oxygen, respectively. The reaction mechanism has been discussed on the basis of activation energies.

Key words: methane, oxidative coupling, lanthanum-barium-sodium oxide, kinetics