Abstract: The oxidative coupling of methane could take place at 723 K over the La2O3 catalyst prepared by the precipitation method, which was about 100 K lower than the startup temperature over the commercial La2O3 catalyst. Under the conditions of 723 K, CH4/O2 molar ratio of 3, and GHSV=7?500 ml/(g•h), the conversion of methane and selectivity for C2 hydrocarbons reached 26.6% and 40.8%, respectively. The characterization results showed that there was only hexagonal La2O3 over the two catalyst samples, but the catalyst prepared by precipitation had a larger specific surface area and a distinct desorption peak of adsorbed O2 at 598 K.

Key words: lanthanum oxide, precipitation method, low temperature, oxidative coupling of methane