Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of a catalyst which contains palladium and/or compounds thereof and alkali metal compounds, and additionally cadmium compounds and/or gold and/or compounds thereof, on support particles which have been pressed from SiO.sub.2 or an iO.sub.2 -Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 mixture with the aid of a binder which comprisesa) washing the roasted support particles with an acid which does not react with SiO.sub.2 or SiO.sub.2 -Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 mixtures, until no further cations of the binder employed during pressing of the support particles are released from the support particles;b) then impregnating the support particles with palladium, and gold or cadmium;c) then bringing the impregnated support particles into contact with a solution of a base at least until the thickness of the nobel metal shell generated in this way on the support particles no longer changes substantially; andd) then impregnating the support particles with an alkali metal compound.