Pd catalysts supported on activated silica-alumina fibers (CFs) and activated carbon felts (ACFs) were prepared and evaluated for the reduction of nitrite in water in a batch reactor. The electroless plating (ELP) method was used in order to deposit small Pd particles on the surface of the fibers. While a homogeneous distribution of Pd nanoparticles was obtained for carbon fibers, this was not the case for ceramic ones in which non-homogeneous patches of Pd films were formed. This fact resulted in a higher activity for nitrite reduction when carbon fibers were used. However, the selectivity toward the undesired product ammonia, measured at the end of the reaction, was slightly higher for Pd/ACFs catalysts. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.