The possibility of appearance of a chromatographic effect during the deposition of Cu-Mn precursors on active carbon with a view to obtaining supported oxide catalysts with a definite active phase composition has been investigated. By impregnation of the support with aqueous solutions of copper and manganese nitrates and subsequent drying at 110 degrees C, two types of samples have been obtained: one-component and two-component ones. They have been characterized by chemical analysis, IR spectroscopy, EPR analysis, and magnetic and adsorption measurements. It has been established that during the preparation of two-component precursors the chromatographic effect is not very strong. Due to the complex chemical nature of the active carbon surface, the copper and manganese ions are adsorbed at different sites. On the basis of the isoelectric point of the active carbon and the pH value of the impregnating solutions, a scheme for the occurrence of adsorption processes has been proposed. The porous texture of the active carbon permits deposition of the precursor at definite surface sites; due to this it is very promising as a support of two component oxide catalysts,