Porous carbon xerogels synthesized in a previous study were investigated as catalysts supports. The support chosen was a micro-mesoporous carbon xerogel obtained from the pyrolysis of a resorcinol-formaldehyde resin whose synthesis variables were fixed at suitable values. Palladium and silver were deposited on this tailored texture carbon by co-impregnation using a solution of palladium and silver nitrates in nitric acid and water. Several catalysts were prepared with various Pd and Ag global contents, the latters being measured experimentally. Alloy particles, detected in all bimetallic samples, were studied by a combination of various techniques that enabled us to obtain their size as well as their bulk and surface composition. When present, the fraction of unalloyed silver was also calculated. The characterization data were related to the results of catalytic tests obtained for selective hydrodechlorination of 1,2-dichloroethane into ethylene. Results show that when the Ag content is too high, pure Ag particles are formed and the alloy composition remains constant. As a consequence, the surface composition of the alloy is constant as well and the catalytic tests lead to similar results. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.