(EP194425-B)      A process for the production of ethylene and ethane by oxidation of methane with oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a metal compound as catalyst at a reaction temperature of from 600 to 1000 deg.C, characterised in that chloride, bromides and iodides of the alkali and alkaline earth elements, of elements of secondary group IIIb of the periodic system, of elements having ordinal numbers of from 24 to 30, of the lanthanide elements, of silver, cadmium, lead and bismuth are used either individually or in admixture as catalysts, the atomic weight of the alkali, alkaline earth and IIIb secondary group elements being no greater than 139. (8pp)e    (DE3503664-C)      Ethane and ethylene are prepd. by oxidising methane with oxygen or a gas contg. oxygen at 600-1000 (650-850) deg.C in the presence of a catalyst consisting of one or more of the following:- chlorides and bromides of alkali and alkaline earth metals, elements of Gp. IIIB with atomic number 25-30, lanthanide elements, cadmium, lead and bismuth, the atomic wt. of the alkali, alkaline earth or Gp. IIIb element being no greater than 139. The catalyst is pref. on a support which is pref. an oxide of magnesium and/or calcium.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Ethane and ethylene are obtd. with high selectivity and conversion of methane. The mixt. may be sepd. or used without sepn. to prepare e.g. vinyl chloride. (6pp)    (JP94039404-B2)      Ethane and ethylene are prepd. by the oxidn. of methane with O2 or O2-contg. gases at 600-1000 deg.C in the presence of a catalyst comprising chlorides, bromides or iodides of alkali(ne earth) elements, elements of subgroup IIIb, elements with atomic numbers of 24-30, the lanthanide elements, Ag, Cd, Pb and Bi, singly or in combination, with the proviso that the atomic wt. of the alkali(ne earth) elements, and subgroup IIIb elements is not greater than 139.    ADVANTAGE -   Process allows conversion of methane, which is easily available from natural sources, into C2 hydrocarbons by oxidative coupling, with high selectivity and useful conversions, and by a non-complex procedure.