Bimetallic Au-Pd catalysts supported on silica with different Au/Pd atomic ratios were prepared by simultaneous reduction of palladium and gold precursors by ethanol in the presence of the polymer, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). Formation of alloyed particles was detected by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and CO chemisorption measurements. The catalysts were tested in the catalytic oxidation of CO using a plug-flow reactor. The CO conversion was determined as a function of temperature. The monometallic palladium and the palladium-rich catalysts behaved quite similarly and were the most active catalysts. A drastic reduction of the CO oxidation activity was observed for the 50/50 Au/Pd catalyst and for samples with increasing amount of gold. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.