Catalyst and method of preparation

A method of making a supported catalytic species comprising an alloy of at least two metals, the method comprising the steps of:

• (i) preparing an initial slurry mixture comprising a particulate support material and a solution of a first metal compound, a second metal compound, and an alkaline precipitating agent, wherein the initial slurry mixture has a pH in a range of from 6 to 9;
• then
• (ii) agitating the initial slurry mixture for a time sufficient to form an agitated slurry mixture comprising the particulate support material, comprising hydrolyzed metal solids deposited thereon and formed from the reaction of the alkaline precipitating agent and the first and second metal compounds, and an associated liquid, while maintaining the agitated slurry mixture at a pH in a range of from 6 to 9;
• and then
• (iii) contacting the hydrolyzed metal solids deposited on the particulate support material with a reducing agent to form the supported catalytic species, such that the first and second metals have been reduced to form a first reduced metal and a second reduced metal, respectively, and both are supported on the particulate support material;
• wherein the first metal in the first metal compound and the second metal in the second metal compound is each independently gold, palladium, platinum, rhodium, iridium, silver, osmium or ruthenium;
• and
• the first metal is not the same as the second metal.