We reported the synthesis of a promising carbon-titania composite material. C/TiO2, and its application as the catalyst support in citral hydrogenation. The composite was synthesized by methane decomposition over formed TiO2 using Ni-Cu as a catalyst. C/TiO2 synthesized was subsequently employed to prepare its supported palladium catalyst, Pd/C/TiO2. The textural and structural properties of C/TiO2 and Pd/C/TiO2 were characterized by BET, SEM/EDS, TEM, ICP-AES, XRD and TG-DIG. The catalytic properties of Pd/C/TiO2 were evaluated in selective hydrogenation of citral to citronellal. Results revealed that the addition of a little promoter Cu in composite synthesis helped to the improvement in textural and structural properties of C/TiO2. The optimal composite prepared had a BET surface area of 60 m(2) g(-1) and 97% of its pore space were mesopore. It contained 38% of carbon composed of 90% of carbon nanofibers and 10% of amorphous carbon. Pd/C/TiO2 prepared held the similar textural and structural properties as C/TiO2 did. Although the comparatively lower catalytic activity caused by the lower palladium dispersion, Pd/C/TiO2 exhibited the high citronellal selectivity (90%) at 90% citral conversion, which was attributed to the elimination of internal diffusion limitations due to its mesoporous structure. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.