TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Component: The gold source comprises HAuCl4.3H2O. The iron source comprises Fe(NO3)3.9H2O. The alkali metal base is sodium carbonate. Preferred Method: The pH is maintained at 7.5-8.5. The combining of gold/iron solution with aqueous solution of alkali metal base is conducted at 50-90degreesC. The hydrogen and oxygen containing gas is passed through the catalyst for 12-36 hours at 65-75degreesC. The calcining is performed by heating the ground solids gradually to reach a temperature of 200-500degreesC in an hour, and maintaining the temperature for at least one half hour. Preferred Composition: The gold is present in the catalyst as 0.25-10, preferably 1-3 wt.% of the iron oxide. The mixture of gases comprises 200-20000 ppm by volume carbon monoxide and at least 10 vol.% carbon dioxide. The mixture of hydrogen and oxygen is present in a ratio by volume of 0.25/65-6/65. It comprises hydrogen and 1-5 vol.% oxygen. Preferred Property: The catalyst has a size range of 1-1.4 mm.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Component: The gold source comprises HAuCl4.3H2O. The iron source comprises Fe(NO3)3.9H2O. The alkali metal base is sodium carbonate. Preferred Method: The pH is maintained at 7.5-8.5. The combining of gold/iron solution with aqueous solution of alkali metal base is conducted at 50-90degreesC. The hydrogen and oxygen containing gas is passed through the catalyst for 12-36 hours at 65-75degreesC. The calcining is performed by heating the ground solids gradually to reach a temperature of 200-500degreesC in an hour, and maintaining the temperature for at least one half hour. Preferred Composition: The gold is present in the catalyst as 0.25-10, preferably 1-3 wt.% of the iron oxide. The mixture of gases comprises 200-20000 ppm by volume carbon monoxide and at least 10 vol.% carbon dioxide. The mixture of hydrogen and oxygen is present in a ratio by volume of 0.25/65-6/65. It comprises hydrogen and 1-5 vol.% oxygen. Preferred Property: The catalyst has a size range of 1-1.4 mm. EXAMPLE - A solution of 1.0 M Fe(NO3)3 was prepared by dissolving 171 g Fe(NO3)3.9H2O in 355 ml deionized water. To this solution was added 2.0 g HAuCl4.3H2O. A solution of 150 g sodium bicarbonate in 1500 ml deionized water was also prepared. Both solutions were added with stirring to 1500 ml deionized water at 60degreesC. The addition took about an hour and stirring was continued for an additional 0.5 hour after addition was complete. The suspension was cooled to room temperature and filtered. The solids were re-slurried in 2500 ml deionized water at room temperature for 0.25 hour and filtered. The solids were dried at 80degrees overnight. The very hard solids were ground and sieved through a 12, 14 and a 20 mesh screen. The particles collected on the 14 and 20 mesh screens were combined and calcined by ramping to 350degreesC in 0.5 hour, then to 400degreesC in 0.25 hour and holding at 400degreesC for 0.5 hour. The carbon monoxide conversion using the catalyst was over 90%.