Tableted alpha-alumina catalyst support

A tableted catalyst support characterized by an alpha-alumina content of at least 85% by weight, a pore volume of at least 0.4 mL/g as determined by mercury porosimetry, and a BET surface area of 0.5 to 5.0 m2/g. The tabletted catalyst support is an alpha-alumina catalyst support obtained at high geometric accuracy and exhibiting a high total pore volume, thus allowing impregnation with high amounts of silver, while exhibiting a sufficiently large surface area to provide optimal dispersion of catalytically active species, in particular metal species. The invention further provides a method of producing a tabletted alpha-alumina catalyst support comprising i) forming a free-flowing feed mixture comprising at least 50% by weight of transition alumina, based on the inorganic solids content; ii) tabletting the free flowing feed mixture to obtain a compacted body; and iii) heat treating the compact at a temperature of at least 1100 DEG C, preferably at least 1300 DEG C, more preferably at least 1400 DEG C, in part