Abstract This paper presents the results obtained by means of the steady state isotopic transient kinetic analysis for complete methane oxidation over the Pd(PdO)Al 2 O 3 catalyst. The average surface life-time and surface concentration of methane and carbon dioxide were determined. It was found out that on the palladium catalyst there are adsorbed small amounts of methane (which does not take part in the process of oxidation) only at the temperature corresponding to the starting point of methane oxidation. Additionally, in the steady state of methane oxidation on the palladium catalyst there are present two different kinds of carbon dioxide: short- and long-resided on the catalyst surface. The average surface life-time of both kinds of carbon dioxide decreases with temperature. The surface concentration of long-resided carbon dioxide increases with temperature whereas the small maximum at about 380 °C is noticed for the surface concentration of short-resided carbon dioxide.