Reduction of barium sulfate by methane was investigated in this work. The thermogravimetric method was used to obtain kinetic parameters of the reaction in the temperature range of 900-975 degrees C at atmospheric pressure. The kinetics of the reaction has been studied both in the absence and presence of zinc oxide as a catalyst. The conversion-time data have been interpreted by using the grain model, and the effect of catalyst on the kinetic parameters has been elucidated. It was found that zinc oxide acted as fairly strong catalyst for the reaction, especially at higher temperatures. At about 975 degrees C the reaction rate constant was increased more than 7 times by using 2% of zinc oxide. This enhancement in the rate constant is valuable for industries. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.