Catalyst with zirconia based carrier and its use for dehydrogenation reactions

The invention relates to a process for preparing a catalyst support, in which zirconium dioxide powder is mixed with a binder, if desired a pore former, if desired an acid, water and, if desired, further additives to give a kneadable composition and the composition is homogenized, shaped to produce shaped bodies, dried and calcined, wherein the binder is a monomeric, oligomeric or polymeric organosilicon compound. Suitable binders are monomeric, oligomeric or polymeric silanes, alkoxysilanes, aryloxysilanes, acryloxysilanes, oximinosilanes, halosilanes, aminoxysilanes, aminosilanes, amidosilanes, silazanes or silicones. The invention also provides the catalyst support which has been prepared in this way, a catalyst comprising the support and its use as dehydrogenation catalyst.