Process for the preparation of a microspheroidal catalyst

A process for impregnating microspheroidal catalyst support particles with at least one compound of a catalytically active group VIII noble metal, which process comprises the steps of: (a') impregnating the microspheroidal support particles by the incipient wetness technique with an aqueous solution of the at least one catalytically active group VIII noble metal, whilst agitating the support particles; and (b') drying the impregnated support particles produced in step (a')whilst agitating the impregnated support particles. The microspheroidal support particles are preferably silica, alumina, zirconia or mixtures thereof. Where the catalytically active group VIII noble metal is palladium, the process may be used to prepare a catalyst active for the fluid bed acetoxylation of ethylene to produce vinyl acetate.