Rhodium catalyst and method for preparing the same

A method for preparing a rhodium catalyst containing rhodium metal in the surface layer or near the surface layer of the particles of a support, said method comprising the steps of:

• (i) adding a mineral acid to an aqueous solution of a water-soluble rhodium salt to adjust the pH of the aqueous solution to not more than 1;
• (ii) dipping a silica type or titania type support into said aqueous solution having a pH of not more than 1;
• (iii) dipping the support impregnated with a rhodium salt into an aqueous alkaline solution containing an alkaline compound in an amount at least equivalent to theoretically neutralize the acid impregnated in the support and to theoretically convert the rhodium salt impregnated in the support into rhodium hydroxide;
• and,
• (iv) drying and reducing the support impregnated with the rhodium hydroxide, whereby the impregnated rhodium hydroxide is reduced to rhodium metal.