Carbon xerogels with various pore textures were functionalized by HNO3 or air to increase the number of acidic functions on their surface. These oxidized materials were systematically thermally treated to remove the unstable functions. Analyses indicated that the air treatment was the most efficient because the functions created are more numerous, more stable and homogeneously distributed within the support. These surface oxygenated groups were used as anchors for the covalent grafting of the complex [Pd(OAc)(2)(Et2NH)(2)] through a ligand exchange mechanism. Activation was carried out thermally to produce supported Pd nanoparticles and led to less sintering compared to a control catalyst prepared on an unmodified support. Catalysts were tested in two different catalytic reactions, namely lactose oxidation and hydrolytic oxidation of cellobiose. The former requires as few surface functions as possible while the latter demands a bifunctional catalyst for hydrolysis followed by oxidation. The oxidation of lactose was more efficient with the catalyst prepared on an unmodified carbon xerogel. On the opposite, the hydrolytic oxidation of cellobiose worked the best with a low loaded catalyst prepared on a functionalized support, which provided the acidic functions needed for hydrolysis. Moreover, 100% selectivity for gluconic acid was achieved. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.