Mesoporous TiO2 nanotube (TNT) with high surface area was synthesized and used to support palladium. The as prepared Pd/TNT was characterized by different physico-chemical techniques, such as XRD, SEM, TEM, N-2 physisorption, CO chemisorption and XPS. The catalytic behavior for the hydrogenation of 4-carboxy-benzaldehyde was evaluated and compared with that of a commercial Pd/C. It was observed that Pd species was highly dispersed on TNT at a nominal 0.5% loading, and mainly existed in a metallic state. In comparison with this commercial Pd/C, the Pd/TNT displayed a better catalytic performance for the conversion of 4-carboxy-benzaldehyde. At 0.6 MPa and 280 A degrees C, the Pd/TNT tended to catalytically convert 4-carboxy-benzaldehyde into more stable benzoic acid via a decarbonylation process. A Pd/TNT with high palladium dispersion was successfully prepared by the wet incipient impregnation using a high surface area TiO2 nanotube support, and the fresh catalyst tended to catalytically convert 4-carboxy-benzaldehyde into more stable benzoic acid in the initial operation stage. [GRAPHICS] .