Process for the preparation of vinyl acetate catalyst

A method for the preparation of fluidizable catalyst having the formula Pd-M-A where M is selected from the group consisting of Ba, Au, Cd, Bi, Cu, Mn, Fe, Co, Ce, U and mixtures thereof, A is selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal and mixtures thereof and M is present in a range of from 0 to about 5 wt % and A is present in a range of greater than 0 to 10 wt % which is useful in the oxacylation of olefins and diolefins in a fluid bed reactor comprising:

• a) preparing a fixed bed catalyst precursor consisting primarily of Pd-M supported on a fixed bed catalyst support,
• b) milling the fixed bed catalyst precursor with a fluid bed catalyst binder to form a slurry,
• c) drying the slurry to form microspheroidal particles of solid fluid bed catalyst precursor,
• d) calcining the dried solid fluid bed catalyst precursor, and
• e) impregnating the microspheroidal particles of fluid bed catalyst precursor with a solution of an alkali metal salt to produce a fluid bed catalyst.