Pd and Pt supported on glass fiber materials with developed porosity and high specific surface areas were studied in total propane oxidation. The reaction was carried out in recycling reactor and the kinetic parameters were determined under different reaction conditions in the temperature range 200-500 degrees C. Pt catalysts were seen to be more active than Pd for the same metal loading on identical support. Catalytic activity was seen to depend on support composition. The highest activity was observed on Pt supported on glass fiber modified by titania, demonstrating the ignition temperatures around 200 degrees C. The catalyst surface morphology and surface dispersion of active metal were characterized by high-resolution electron microscopy. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.