A novel two-stage catalyst bed reactor was constructed comprising of the 5%Na2WO4-2%Mn/SiO2 particle catalyst and the 5%Na3PO4-2%Mn/SiO2/cordierite monolithic catalyst. The reaction performance of the oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) in the two-stage bed reactor system was evaluated. The effects of the bed height and operation mode, as well as the reaction parameters such as reaction temperature. CH4/O-2 ratio and flowrate of feed gas on the catalytic performance were investigated. The results indicated that the two-stage bed reactor system exhibited a good performance for the OCM reaction when the feed gases were firstly passed through the particle catalyst bed and then to the monolithic catalyst bed. The CH4 conversion of 32.6% and C-2 selectivity of 67.5% could be obtained with a particle catalyst bed height of 10 mm and a monolithic catalyst bed height of 50 mm in the two-stage bed reactor. Both of the CH4 conversion and C-2 selectivity have been increased by 4.8% and 2.5%, respectively, as compared with the 5%Na2WO4-2%Mn/SiO2 particle catalyst in a single-bed reactor and by 7.7% and 16.1%, respectively, as compared with the 5%Na3PO4-2%Mn/SiO2/cordierite monolithic catalyst in a single-bed reactor. The catalytic performance of the OCM in the two-stage bed reactor system has been remarkably improved. The TPR results indicate the high temperature reduction oxygen species in the monolithic catalyst might be favorable to the formation of C-2 products. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.