Abstract: The oxidation of methane to formaldehyde on various Sn-Zr and Sn-Zr-Ce oxide catalysts have been investigated. The adsorption-desorption of n-butylamine and oxygen on the catalysts have been carried out by temperature programmed desorption method. The yield of formaldehyde was found to be correlative with Sn/Zr ratio and the amount of cerium in the catalysts. The activity of the catalyst in the formation of for-maldehyde from methane was dependent upon the acidity of the catalyst and chemisorp-tion states of oxygen. The results obtained from X-ray diffraction show that there is a strong influence of oxides of Sn in the catalyst on the activity.