Supported silver catalyst

In a process for the production of formaldehyde by oxidative dehydrogenation of methanol with oxygen gas in the presence of a supported silver catalyst at elevated temperature, the improvement which comprises carrying out the reaction by contacting the reacting methanol and oxygen gasses with a supported silver catalyst prepared by;

• (a) contacting an inert porous carrier having a particle size of about 0.5 to 2.0 millimeters long and about 0.4 to 0.6 millimeters in diameter said carrier having a tap volume of about 1.3 to 1.8 grams per cubic centimeter with water or another liquid soluble in water and having a boiling point of less than about 105.degree. C. in an amount sufficient to wet said carrier and to enter the porous structure thereof;
• (b) contacting the wet carrier with an ammoniated aqueous solution of a silver salt in an amount sufficient to coat said carrier with form about 2% to about 8% of metallic silver in said salt form, said solution also containing a minor amount of a fatty acid;
• (c) drying the coated carrier;
• and
• (d) heating the dry carrier at a temperature sufficient to decompose the silver compounds and obtain a metallic silver coating which is adherent to the periphery of said carrier in a quantity of from about 1% to 10% by weight of said carrier and wherein the penetration of the silver within said carrier being no greater than about 15% of the thickness of said carrier.