Pt, Ni, Co, Cu and bimetallic Pt-Ni, Pt-Co, Pt-Cu catalysts supported on gamma-Al(2)O(3) have been studied for the hydrogenation maleic anhydride (MA) to succinic anhydride (SA). X-ray diffraction (XRD) and H(2) temperature programmed reduction TPR studies were performed to characterize the catalysts. The flow reactor studies demonstrated that Pt-Ni bimetallic catalyst is highly active and selective for the hydrogenation of MA. Hydrogenation of maleic anhydride produced mainly succinic anhydride and gamma-butyrolactone, and the selectivity toward gamma-butyrolactone increased with pressure. Using Al(2)O(3) as support, it was possible to obtain the highest reaction rate ever obtained with 90% selectivity to SA at 100% conversion. The process appears to be controlled by H(2) dissociation on nickel and the catalytic activity can be further improved, without loss of selectivity, by adding a very small amount of Pt(0.3) to increase the rate of H(2) dissociation. TPR experiments show high-temperature reduction peaks in monometallic Ni catalysts. When Pt is present, the formation of Pt-Ni compound provokes the shift of the reduction peaks and the appearance of new reduction signals. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.