In this study, the effect of catalyst preparation and additive precursors on the catalytic decomposition of biomass using palygorskite-supported Fe and Ni catalysts was investigated. The catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It is concluded that the most active additive precursor was Fe(NO3)(3)center dot 9H(2)O. As for the catalyst preparation method, co-precipitation had superiority over incipient wetness impregnation at low Fe loadings. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.