For　the　first　time,　palladium　(Pd)　supported　on　hydroxyapatite　(HAP)　was　synthesized　by　integrating　ion-exchange　method　and　single-mode　microwave　technology.　The　effect　of　ion-exchange　time　on　the　methane　(CH4)　combustion　performance　of　Pd/HAP　was　investigated.　It　was　disclosed　that　the　dispersion　and　size　of　Pd　particles　on　HAP　is　affected　by　ion-exchange　time.　When　the　time　was　5　h　(denoted　as　Pd/HAP-5),　T90　(the　temperature　for　90%　CH4　conversion)　over　the　catalyst　was　400　°C.　However,　there　was　decrease　of　catalytic　performance　when　the　time　was　20　h.　The　eminent　performance　of　Pd/HAP-5　is　ascribed　to　(i)　ample　surface　PdO　and　active　oxygen　species,　(ii)　high　Pd　dispersion　and　reducibility,　and　(iii)　strong　CH4　adsorption.　Unlike　traditional　Pd-based　catalysts,　Pd/HAP-5　shows　improved　performance　in　the　presence　of　5%volCO2.　Moreover,　Pd/HAP　is　highly　durable　in　the　presence　of　7　vol%H2O.　Finally,　we　propose　a　reaction　mechanism　of　CH4　combustion　over　the　Pd/HAP.　©　2020　Elsevier　B.V.