TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The molar percentage of the metal oxide nano-powder, based on the moles of ruthenium, is 0. The ratio of moles of metal oxide to moles of ruthenium atoms in the ruthenium precursor compounds is 0.05:1-6:1, preferably 1:1. The metal oxide nano-powder has an average size of 4-50 nm, preferably 8-13 nm. The surface area of the metal oxide nano-powder is 15-250 (preferably 20-150) m2/g. The metal oxide nano-powder is one or more comprising gamma -aluminum oxide, beryllium oxide, bismuth oxide powder or cerium oxide powder. The ruthenium precursor compound is one or more comprising ruthenium trichloride trihydrate or triruthenium dodecacarbonyl cluster. The pre-shaped alumina support pellets have a mean size of 0.2-2 mm, preferably 1 mm, and a pore volume of 0.2-0.7 ml/g, preferably 0.45 ml/g. The molar ratio of ruthenium to polyol is 1:700-1:4000. The concentration of sodium nitrate and/or potassium nitrate respectively, in the aqueous solution is 0.1-1 mol/l. The atomic ratio of sodium and/or potassium, respectively, in the aqueous solution to ruthenium on the solid pellets is 0.5-6, preferably 1-3.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The polyol is ethylene glycol. The agitated mixture is heated at a temperature of 50-175 degrees C. EXAMPLE - Ethylene glycol (225 ml) was added to a round bottom flask. Hydrated ruthenium trichloride (0.68 g) was added to the ethylene glycol. The mixture was stirred magnetically at room temperature for 60 minutes. Alumina pellets (15 g) was added to the flask. A condenser was added to the flask and the assembly was put into a silicon oil bath with oil temperature at 180 degrees C. After 18 minutes, the flask was removed from the oil and inserted into ice for 30 minutes. A sodium nitrate solution was prepared with sodium nitrate (34.4 g) in distilled water (1.3 l). The mixture in the round bottom flask was then added to the sodium nitrate solution and the mixture was magnetically stirred for 30 minutes. The resulting mixture was then filtered with a Hirsch funnel. The obtained coated aluminum oxide pellets were then kept open at ambient temperature for 8 hours.