Oxidative coupling of methane for the production of ethylene was studied over LiNi/MgO catalyst in a fixed bed reactor. The influences of important reaction parameters such as temperature (T), methane/oxygen ratio (CH4/O-2) in feed and space velocity of reactants (V/m(cat)) were studied over the conversion of methane, yields of ethylene and ethane and selectivity of ethylene formation. The reaction conditions were varied as 650 < T < 850degreesC, 0.83 x 10(-6) < V/m(cat) < 2.92 x 10(-6) m(3)/g s and 1 < CH4/O-2 ratio < 8.