Methane and ethane oxidation in alkane-rich mixtures over Pd powder in temperature range of 300-450 degrees C has been studied using combined mass-spectrometry and thermogravimetry. Fresh Pd powder was found to have very low stationary initial catalytic activity. The activity gradually rose with time on stream reaching a certain value where oscillations of the reaction rate began. The oscillation phases with relatively high catalytic activity were accompanied by a periodic accumulation/removal of carbon in Pd bulk, whereas during the low activity phases a periodic accumulation/removal of oxygen in Pd surface layer took place. The correlation between Pd oxidation state and catalytic activity was drawn. The metallic Pd had the lowest catalytic activity in alkane oxidation at high partial pressure of O-2 and while the highest catalytic activity was observed at low partial pressure and high conversion of O-2. Microscopic study of Pd samples revealed that the catalyst evolution caused changes in Pd surface morphology resulting in formation of sponge-like structure. In turn, such morphological changes were found to increase duration and intensity of the high activity phase. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.