“…The addition of Ti and Mg into the Na 2 WO 4 –MnO x /SiO 2 catalyst was also reported to improve the OCM activity when Na 2 WO 4 and MnO x were on the external surface of the silica, but it was unclear how these two additives improved the activation . Oxides of alkali or alkali earth metals (e.g., Li 2 O, ,,− Na 2 O, , K 2 O, , Rb 2 O, Cs 2 O, MgO, ,,− CaO, ,,, SrO, ,,,− and/or BaO) have been used as additives for various catalysts for the OCM reaction and were found to enhance the OCM activity because of their basicity property. In other words, they are unlike oxides of acidic metals, which prefer the complete oxidation of methane .…”