While 1,2-dichloroethane hydrodechlorination over pure palladium mainly produces ethane, increasing silver or copper content in bimetallic catalysts results in an increase in ethylene selectivity. The specific consumption rate of 1,2-dichloroethane decreases when silver or copper loading increases. The turnover frequency, that is, the number of catalytic cycle per active site (palladium atom and its surrounding silver or copper atoms) and per second, seems to be independent of surface composition of alloy particles and 1,2-dichloroethane hydrodechlorination is insensitive to the atom's nature (silver or copper). (c) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.