Bimetallic CuPdx nanoparticles synthesized by the wet chemical reduction method were used as the catalysts in the catalytic oxidation of 1,2-propanediol with gaseous oxygen to aliphatic adds. The palladium and copper nanoparticles in the bimetallic CuPdx nanoparticles had an alloying trend. The catalytic activity of the palladium nanoparticles in the bimetallic CuPd(x )nanoparticles was enhanced by the interaction between the palladium and copper nanoparticles. When the bimetallic CuPd7 nanoparticles catalyzed the oxidation of 1,2-propanediol in an alkaline aqueous solution at 100 degrees C for 3 h, lactic, formic, and acetic acids were dominantly produced with the total selectivity of above 99% at the 1,2-propanediol conversion of 85.9%. The simulation of the reaction kinetic equation on the CuPd7 catalyst showed that the reaction activation energy was 29.4 kJ.mol(-1), indicating that the bimetallic CuPd7 nanoparticles had a high catalytic activity in the oxidation reaction between 1,2-propanediol and gaseous oxygen. (C) 2020 The Chemical Industry and Engineering Society of China, and Chemical Industry Press Co., Ltd. All rights reserved.