In order to adjust the acidity and texture property of HZSM-5, SiO 2 –ZrO 2 was introduced via a modified sol–gel method. Pd-loaded catalyst was prepared and its catalytic activity was tested in one-step synthesis of MIBK. The catalyst exhibited a significant activity of acetone conversion up to 33.4% and MIBK selectivity up to 88.1% under atmospheric pressure. The acidity and textural properties of support material, as well as palladium dispersion of Pd-loaded catalyst were characterized. The results indicated that the proper acid strength and textural property of the support, together with the high dispersion of palladium resulted in good catalytic performance.