The optimization of process parameters and catalyst compositions for the CO2 oxidative coupling of methane (CO2-OCM) reaction over CaO-MnO/CeO2 catalyst was developed using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The relationship between the responses, i.e. CH4 conversion, C hydrocarbons selectivity or yield, with four independent variables, i.e. CO2/CH4 ratio, reactor temperature, wt.% CaO and wt.% MnO in the catalyst, were presented as empirical mathematical models. The maximum C hydrocarbons selectivity and yields of 82.62% and 3.93%, respectively, were achieved by the individual-response optimization at the corresponding optimal process parameters and catalyst compositions. However, the CH4 conversion was a saddle function and did not show a unique optimum as revealed by the canonical analysis. Moreover pertaining to simultaneous multi-responses optimization, the maximum C selectivity and yield of 76.56% and 3.74%, respectively, were obtained at a unique optimal process parameters and catalyst compositions. It may be deduced that both individual- and multi-responses optimizations are useful for the recommendation of optimal process parameters and catalyst compositions for the CO2-OCM process. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.