Spherical Al2O3 and SiO2–Al2O3 supports with different silica contents have been synthesized by the oil column method. After impregnation with Na2PdCl4 solution and subsequent calcination, PdO/Al2O3 and PdO/SiO2–Al2O3 catalyst precursors were obtained. X-ray powder diffraction and low temperature N2 adsorption–desorption measurements showed that the addition of silica increased the thermal stability, surface ...