Nickelate catalysts were prepared by a modified Pechini method. Single phases of La2NiO4 (LN) and La1.9Sr0.1NiO4 (LSN) were obtained after calcination at 1000 degrees C in air. O-2-temperature-programmed desorption (TPD-O-2) experiments have shown that, in spite of quite small specific area, this material exhibits extremely high bulk oxygen mobility since interstitial oxygen species can be exchanged with the gas phase at temperatures as low as 230 degrees C. Furthermore, these oxygen species can react with propane to mainly form CO2 from 300 degrees C. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.