Abstract: A new hydrodehalogenation catalyst, as well as to its use for the hydrodechlorination of chlorinated hydrocarbons. The hydrodehalogenation catalyst, which converts halogenated hydrocarbons completely under mild conditions, has a considerably longer lifetime than do known catalysts and can be regenerated. In a method of hydrogenating dechlorination the catalyst works preferably under mild reaction conditions, with lifetimes of at least 2,500 hours and leads to reaction products, which can readily be used economically and thermally without further purification. The catalyst is a palladium aluminosilicate support catalyst, which is free of chlorinated compounds, has a palladium content of 0.5 to 8% by weight and a silica content of 1 to 50% by weight. The palladium concentration over the cross section of the support passes through a maximum in the region 50 to 250 .mu.m below the outer surface of the support, the maximum palladium concentration is 1.5 to 7 times the average palladium concentration.