The paper presents a study on glucose oxidation over a modified palladium/alumina catalyst in a weak alkaline medium. The high reaction rates and complete conversion obtained are explained by non-uniform distribution of the active metal within the catalyst support and also by the raised number of Pd atoms on the active particles surface. Catalyst deactivation is described as a process caused by Pd-O formation in the metal lattice accompanied by adsorption of the reaction products. The effects of catalyst mass, particle diameter, multiple use of the catalyst and initial glucose concentration on the conversion were investigated. The kinetic constants are determined using the single site Langmuir-Hinshelwood model.