WO200222258-A2  M. PINABIAU-CARLIER ET AL.: "The effect of the total pressure on the oxidative coupling of methane reaction under cofeed conditions" STUDIES IN SURFACE SCIENCE AND CATALYSIS., vol. 61, 1991, pages 183-190, XP001065221 ELSEVIER SCIENCE B.V., AMSTERDAM., NL ISSN: 0167-2991 cited in the application;  OLSBYE UNNI ET AL: "Comparative study of coprecipitated BaCO3/La2On(CO3)m catalysts for the oxidative coupling of methane" PROCEEDINGS OF THE WORKSHOP MEETING ON C1-C3 HYDROCARBON CONVERSION;KRASNOYARSK, USSR SEP 10-13 1991, vol. 13, no. 4, 6 April 1992 (1992-04-06), pages 603-608, XP001059055 Catalysis Today;  PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 1999, no. 14, 22 December 1999 (1999-12-22) & JP 11 246446 A (AGENCY OF IND SCIENCE &AMP;TECHNOL; JAPAN CHEMICAL INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIO), 14 September 1999 (1999-09-14);  PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 1999, no. 14, 22 December 1999 (1999-12-22) & JP 11 246446 A (AGENCY OF IND SCIENCE &TECHNOL; JAPAN CHEMICAL INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIO), 14 September 1999 (1999-09-14)US6403523-B1  Alvero, R. et al., "Lanthanide Oxides: Preparation and Ageing", J. Chem. Soc. Dalton Trans. 1984, 87-91, Month not avail.;  Bernal, S. et al., "Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Ethane over Lanthana: Actual Nature of the Active Phase", Catalysis Letters 6 (1990) 231-238. (Jul. 1990).;  Bernal, S. et al., "Thermal Evolution of a Sample of La2O3 Exposed to the Atmosphere", Thermochimica Acta, 66 (1983) 139-145. Jan. 1983.;  Campbell, K.D., "Methane Activation by the Lanthanide Oxides", J. Phys. Chem. 1988, 92, 750-753. Aug. 1987.;  Chen, L.Y. et al., "Properties of Lanthanabased Catalysts for the Oxidative Coupling of Methane", J. Fuel Chem. and Techn, vol. 22, No. 4, pp. 337-342, 1994. Jan. 1994.;  Choudhary, V.R. et al., "Oxidative Coupling of Methane over La2O3", J. Chem. SOc. Paraday Trans., 1994, 90(21), 3357-3365. Month not avail.;  Choudhary, V.R., et al., "Acidity/Basicity of Rare-Earth Oxides and their Catalytic Activity in Oxidative Coupling of Methane to C2-Hydrocarbons", Journal of Catalysis 130, 411-422 (1991). Jan. 1991.;  Conway, S.J. et al., "Comparison of Lanthanum Oxide and Strontium-Modified Lanthanum Oxide Catalysts for the Oxidative Coupling of Methane", Applied Catalysis A: General, 86 (1992) 199-212. Apr. 1992.;  DeBoy, J.M. et al., "Oxidative Coupling of Methane Over Alkaline Earth Promoted La2O3", J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun., 1988, 982-984. Month not avail.;  DeBoy, J.M. et al., "The Oxidative Coupling of Methane over Alkali, Alkaline Earth, and Rare Earth Oxides", Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 1988, 27, 1577-1582. Month not avail.;  Ekstrom, A., et al., "Effect of Pressure on the Oxidative Coupling Reaction of Methane", Applied Catalysis, 62 (1990) 253-269. Feb. 1990.;  Foger, K. et al., "Formation and Thermal Decomposition of Rare-Earth Carbonates", Journal of Materials Science 27 (1992) 77-82. Month not avail.;  Hengxiu, W. et al., "Study on Oxidative Coupling of Methane-Over Various Lanthanum Compounds", N. American Catalysis Soc. Meeting, 1997, p121. Month not avail.;  Holsa, J. et al., "Preparation Thermal Stability and Luminescence Properties of Selected Rare Earth Oxycarbonates", Thermochinica Acta, 190 (1991) 335-343. Mar. 1991.;  Lacombe, S. et al., "Total Oxidation Pathways in Oxidative Coupling of Methane Over Lanthanum Oxide Catalysts", Catalysis Today, 13 (1992) 273-282. Month not avail.;  Le Van T. et al., "Structure Sensitivity of the Catalytic Oxidative Coupling of Methane on Lanthanum Oxide", Catalysis Letters 6 (1990) 395-400. Aug. 1990.;  Le Van, T. et al., "Infrared Study of the Formation and Stability of La2O2CO3 during the Oxidative Coupling of Methane on La2O3", Journal of Catalysis 142, 18-26 (1993). Feb. 1993.;  Le Van, T. et al., "Temperature and Conversion Dependance of Selectivities in the Oxidative Coupling of Methane on La2O3 Catalysts", Catalysis Today, 13 (1992) 321-328. Month not avail.;  Louis, C. et al., "EPR Study of the Stability and the Role of the O2-Species on La2O3 in the Oxidative Coupling of Methane", Catalysis Today, 13 (1992) 283-289. Month not avail.;  Mimoun, H. et al., "Oxidative Coupling of Methane Followed by Ethane Pyrolysis", Chemistry Letters, (1989) pp. 2185-2188. Month not avail.;  Olsbye U. et al., "A Comparative Study of Coprecipitated BaCO3/La2On(CO3)m Catalysts for Oxidative Coupling of Methane", Catalysis Today, 13 (1992) 603-608. Month not avail.;  Otsuka, K. et al., "Active and Selective Catalysts for the Synthesis of C2H4 and C2H6 via Oxidative Coupling of Methane", Journal of Catalysis 100, 353-359 (1986), Mar. 1986.;  Pinabiau-Carlier, M. et al., "The Effect of Total Pressure on the Oxidative Coupling of Methane Reaction Under Cofeed Conditions", A. Holmen et al. (Editors), Natural Gas Conversion (1991), pp. 183-190. Month not avail.;  Squire, G.D. et al., "In Situ X-ray Diffraction Study of Lanthanum Oxide Catalysts During the Oxidative Coupling of Methane", Applied Catalysis A: General, 108 (1994) 261-278. Sep. 1993.;  Taylor, R.P. et al., "Isotopic Labeling Studies of C and O atoms for Methane Oxidative Coupling Over II-La2O2CO3", Natural gas Conversion II (1994), pp. 235-240. Month not avail.;  Taylor, R.P., et al., "Lanthanum Catalysts for CH4 Oxidative Coupling: A Comparison of the Reactivity of Phases", Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 1991, 30, 1016-1023. Month not avail.;  Turcotte, R.P. et al., "On the Rate Earth Dioxymonocarbonates and their Decoposition", Inorganic Chemistry vol. 8, No. 2, (Feb. 1969) 238-246.;  Walsh, D.E., et al., "Direct Oxidative Methane Conversion at Elevated Pressure and Moderate Temperatures", Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 1992, 31, 1259-1262. Month not avail.;  Walsh, D.E., et al., "Pressure, Temperature, and Product Yield Relationships in Direct Oxidative Methane Conversion at Elevated Pressures and Moderate Temperatures", Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 1992, 31, 2422-2425. Month not avail.;  Watanabe, Yoshihiko, et al., "Dissociation Pressure of Lanthanum Dioxide Carbonate", Journal of Materials Science Letters 5 (1986) 135-136. Month not avail.US6576803-B2  Alvero, R. et al., "Lanthanide Oxides: Preparation and Ageing", J. Chem. Soc. Dalton Trans. 1984, 87-91. Month not available.;  Bernal, S. et al., "Oxidation Dehydrogenation of Ethane over Lanthana: Actual Nature of the Active Phase", Catalysis Letters 6 (Jul. 1990) 231-238. Month not available.;  Bernal, S. et al., "Thermal Evolution of a Sample of La2O3 Exposed to the Atmosphere", Thermochimica Acta, 66 (Jan. 1983) 139-145.;  Campbell, K.D., "Methane Activation by the Lanthanide Oxides", J. Phys. Chem. 1988, 92, 750-753, Aug. 1987.;  Chen, L.Y. et al., "Properties of Lanthanabased Catalysts for the Oxidative Coupling of Methane", J. Fuel Chem. and Techn., vol. 22, No. 4, pp. 337-342, Jan. 1994.;  Choudhary, V.R. et al., "Oxidative Coupling of Methane over La2O3", J. Chem. Soc. Paraday Trans., 1994, 90(21), 3357-3365. Month not available.;  Choudhary, V.R., et al., "Acidity/Basicity of Rare-Earth Oxides and their Catalytic Activity in Oxidative Coupling of Methane to C2-Hydrocarbons", Journal of Catalysis 130, 411-422 (Jan. 1991).;  Conway, S.J. et al., "Comparison of Lanthanum Oxide and Strontium-Modified Lanthanum Oxide Catalysts for the Oxidative Coupling of Methane", Applied Catalysis A: General, 86 (Apr. 1992) 199-212.;  DeBoy, J.M. et al., "Oxidative Coupling of Methane Over Alkaline Earth Promoted La2O3", J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun., 1988, 982-984. Month not available.;  DeBoy, J.M. et al., "The Oxidative Coupling of Methane over Alkali, Alkaline Earth, and Rare Earth Oxides", Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 1988, 27, 1577-1582. Month not available.;  Ekstrom, A., et al., "Effect of Pressure on the Oxidative Coupling Reaction of Methane", Applied Catalysis, 62 (Feb. 1990) 253-269.;  Foger, K. et al., "Formation and Thermal Decomposition of Rare-Earth Carbonates", Journal of Materials Science 27 (1992) 77-82. Month not available.;  Hengxiu, W. et al., "Study on Oxidative Coupling of Methane Over Various Lanthanum Compounds", N. American Catalysis Soc. Meeting, 1997, p121. Month not available.;  Holsa, J. et al., "Preparation, Thermal Stability and Luminescence Properties of Selected Rare Earth Oxycarbonates", Thermochimica Acta, 190 (Mar. 1991) 335-343.;  Lacombe, S. et al., "Total Oxidation Pathways in Oxidative Coupling of Methane Over Lanthanum Oxide Catalysts", Catalysis Today, 13 (1992) 273-282. Month not available.;  Le Van T. et al., "Structure Sensitivity of the Catalytic Oxidative Coupling of Methane on Lanthanum Oxide", Catalysis Letters 6 (Aug. 1990) 395-400.;  Le Van, T. et al., "Infrared Study of the Formation and Stability of La2O2CO3 during the Oxidative Coupling of Methane on La2O3", Journal of Catalysis 142, 18-26 (Feb. 1993).;  Le Van, T. et al., "Temperature and Conversion Dependence of Selectivities in the Oxidative Coupling of Methane on La2O3 Catalysts", Catalysis Today, 13 (1992) 321-328. Month not available.;  Louis, C. et al., "EPR Study of the Stability and the Role of the O2-Species on La2O3 in the Oxidative Coupling of Mathane", Catalysis Today, 13 (1992) 283-289.;  Mimoun, H. et al., "Oxidative Coupling of Methane Followed by Ethane Pyrolysis", Chemistry Letters, (1989), pp. 2185-2188. Month not available.;  Olsbye U. et al., "A Comparative Study of Coprecipitated BaCO3/La2On(CO3)m Catalysts for the Oxidative Coupling of Methane", Catalysis today, 13(1992) 603-608. Month not available.;  Otsuka, K. et al., "Active and Selective Catalysts for the Synthesis of C2H4 and C2H6 via Oxidative Coupling of Methane", Journal of Catalysis 100, 353-359 (Mar. 1986).;  Pinabiau-Carlier, M. et al., "The Effect of Total Pressure on the Oxidative Coupling of Methane Reaction Under Cofeed Conditions", A. Holmen et al., (Editors), Natural Gas Conversion (1991), pp. 183-190, Month not available.;  Squire, G.D. et al., "In Situ X-ray Diffraction Study of Lanthanum Oxide Catalysts During the Oxidative Coupling of Methane", Applied Catalysis A: General, 108 (Sep. 1994) 261-278.;  Taylor, R.P. et al., "Isotopic Labeling Studies of C and O atoms for Methane Oxidative Coupling Over II-La2O2CO3", Natural Gas Conversion II (1994), pp. 235-240. Month not available.;  Taylor, R.P., et al., "Lanthanum Catalysts for CH4 Oxidative Coupling: A Comparison of the Reactivity of Phases", Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 1991, 30, 1016-1023. Month not available.;  Turcotte, R.P. et al., "On the Rare Earth Dioxymonocarbonates and their Decoposition", inorganic Chemistry vol. 8, No. 2, (Feb. 1969) 238-246.;  Walsh, D.E., et al., "Direct Oxidative Methane Conversion at Elevated Pressure and Moderate Temperatures", Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 1992, 31, 1259-1262. Month not available.;  Walsh, D.E., et al., "Pressure, Temperature, and Product Yield Relationships in Direct Oxidative Methane Conversion at Elevated Pressures and Moderate Temperatures", Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 1992, 31, 2422-2425. Month not available.;  Watanabe, Yoshihiko, et al., "Dissociation Pressure of Lanthanum Dioxide Carbonate", Journal of Materials Science Letters 5 (1986) 135-136. Month not available.WO200222258-A3  M. PINABIAU-CARLIER ET AL.: "The effect of the total pressure on the oxidative coupling of methane reaction under cofeed conditions" STUDIES IN SURFACE SCIENCE AND CATALYSIS., vol. 61, 1991, pages 183-190, XP001065221 ELSEVIER SCIENCE B.V., AMSTERDAM., NL ISSN: 0167-2991 cited in the application;  OLSBYE UNNI ET AL: "Comparative study of coprecipitated BaCO3/La2On(CO3)m catalysts for the oxidative coupling of methane" PROCEEDINGS OF THE WORKSHOP MEETING ON C1-C3 HYDROCARBON CONVERSION;KRASNOYARSK, USSR SEP 10-13 1991, vol. 13, no. 4, 6 April 1992 (1992-04-06), pages 603-608, XP001059055 Catalysis Today;  PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 1999, no. 14, 22 December 1999 (1999-12-22) & JP 11 246446 A (AGENCY OF IND SCIENCE &TECHNOL; JAPAN CHEMICAL INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIO), 14 September 1999 (1999-09-14);  M. PINABIAU-CARLIER ET AL.: "The effect of the total pressure on the oxidative coupling of methane reaction under cofeed conditions", STUDIES IN SURFACE SCIENCE AND CATALYSIS., vol. 61, 1991, ELSEVIER SCIENCE B.V., AMSTERDAM., NL, pages 183 - 190, XP001065221, ISSN: 0167-2991;  OLSBYE UNNI ET AL: "Comparative study of coprecipitated BaCO3/La2On(CO3)m catalysts for the oxidative coupling of methane", PROCEEDINGS OF THE WORKSHOP MEETING ON C1-C3 HYDROCARBON CONVERSION;KRASNOYARSK, USSR SEP 10-13 1991, vol. 13, no. 4, 6 April 1992 (1992-04-06), Catalysis Today, pages 603 - 608, XP001059055;  PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 1999, no. 14 22 December 1999 (1999-12-22);  M. PINABIAU-CARLIER ET AL.: "The effect of the total pressure on the oxidative coupling of methane reaction under cofeed conditions", STUDIES IN SURFACE SCIENCE AND CATALYSIS., vol. 61, 1991, ELSEVIER SCIENCE B.V., AMSTERDAM., NL, pages 183 - 190, XP001065221, ISSN: 0167-2991,relevantClaims[1,28-30],relevantPassages[&lt;table&gt;1&lt;/table&gt;|&lt;figure&gt;1&lt;/figure&gt;];  OLSBYE UNNI ET AL: "Comparative study of coprecipitated BaCO3/La2On(CO3)m catalysts for the oxidative coupling of methane", PROCEEDINGS OF THE WORKSHOP MEETING ON C1-C3 HYDROCARBON CONVERSION;KRASNOYARSK, USSR SEP 10-13 1991, vol. 13, no. 4, 6 April 1992 (1992-04-06), Catalysis Today, pages 603 - 608, XP001059055,relevantClaims[1-7,10|28-30],relevantPassages[&lt;pp&gt;W&lt;/pp&gt;];  PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 1999, no. 14 22 December 1999 (1999-12-22),relevantClaims[1-7,10,13-17,19-24,26-30],relevantPassages[&lt;pp&gt;A&lt;/pp&gt;]