SUPPORTED OCM CATALYST COMPOSITION HAVING IMPROVED PRODUCT SELECTIVITY AND CATALYST ACTIVITY

The invention relates to a composition containing an oxide supported oxidative coupling of methane catalyst having an excellent balance of catalytic activity and selectivity while retaining desired levels mechanical stability suitable for commercial reactor application. Particularly, the inventive catalyst is an oxide supported catalyst with the oxide catalyst support having a spherical diameter of less than 2 mm and a surface area of less than less than 9.5 m2/g while retaining a water sorption volume of at least 0.2 cc/g. The invention further provides a method for preparing such a composition containing an oxide supported catalyst, using a combination of thermal treatment of the oxide catalyst support, active component impregnation and followed up by calcination. Additionally, the invention also describes a process for producing C2+ hydrocarbons, using such a catalyst composition.