Commercial 0.5% Pd/C catalysts for the production of purified terephthalic acid (PTA) have been investigated by several physical techniques (SEM-EDS, CO chemisorption, XRD) and by activity tests performed in conditions strictly similar to those of industrial operation. These catalysts show a strongly external Pd distribution, pointing to high Pd concentrations in the outer layers of the carrier It was found that Pd sinters very easily and that a rough proportionality exists between catalytic activity and Pd surface area. Pd sintering was shown to be an important cause of deactivation for PTA catalysts. However, in some cases deactivation occurs by sulphur poisoning, with the formation of a Pd sulphide (Pd4S).