Hydrogenations of sunflower oil over novel structured catalysts with pore sizes ranging from 3 to 20 nm, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller specific surface areas of 710-1200 m(2)/g, and metal concentrations on the support ranging from 0.7 to 5.0% (w/w) were investigated and compared to a commercial Ni catalyst. Catalyst supports with pore diameters between 7 and 8 nm were more active than supports with lower pore diameters. At the same metal loading and mean pore diameter, the activity was also higher with supports having smaller pore volumes and surface areas, suggesting that the pore depth and geometry of the supports may play an important role in the activity of the supported catalysts. The activity of hydrogenation depended on the Pd content, with maxima in the concentration range of 0.8-1.2% (w/w). A Pd catalyst at a Pd loading of 1% (w/w) had as much activity as a Ni catalyst but was more selective toward cis-monoenes with similar selectivity toward TFA at equal IV reductions. Hydrogenation of sunflower oil in the catalysts was described by a lumped kinetic model.