Binary oxide, TeO2-MoO3, converted ethyl lactate selectively to-pyruvate in a vapor-phase fixed-bed flow system. A synergy in activity was observed for TeO2-MoO3 calcined at 500 degrees C, showing a sharp maximum at a composition of MoO3.2TeO2 and it is concluded with evidence from powder XRD, IR, DTA-TGA, and SEM/EPMA that alpha-Te2MoO7 is the active species for the present system. TeO2-MoO3 calcined at 400 degrees C was a mixture of the component oxides and crystallized at 450 degrees C to give alpha-Te2MoO7. Phase transition of the alpha-form to less active amorphous beta-Te2MoO7 was observed by calcination at 600 degrees C. An optimized catalyst with a composition of MoO3.2TeO(2) calcined at 500 degrees C in air revealed a high conversion of lactate over 99% with 93% selectivity to pyruvate at 300 degrees C.