Methyl bromide (CH3Br, MB) is an effective chemosterilant in quarantine and pre-shipment (QPS) chamber fumigation applications. Efficient methods to destroy or capture and reuse spent MB in QPS operations are required in view of the recognized ozone depleting potential of MB. Oxidation of 34,000 ppmv MB in simulated QPS airstreams was examined over catalysts composed of Pt, Pd, Fe2O3, CuO, or PbO nanoparticles on oxide (Al2O3, SiO2, and TiO2) or mixed-oxide (CeO2-Al2O3, CeO2-SiO2, and CeO2-TiO2) supports, and by self-assembled core-shell catalysts (Pd@SiO2 and Pd@10%CeO2-Al2O3). The most effective support by far was ceria. The effect of noble metal doping was modest; Pt was more active than Pd in CeO2-Al2O3 based catalysts, while Pd was more active than Pt in TiO2 based catalysts. The most effective catalyst tested was 1%Pt/30%CeO2-Al2O3, with 100%CeO2 being only slightly less effective. Using 1%Pt/30%CeO2-Al2O3, MB was completely oxidized at 400 degrees C, independent of airstream humidification, to give HBr as the initial product, which was subsequently oxidized to Br-2 by a Deacon-type reaction. The selectivity for Br-2 in MB decomposition increased with temperature, maximizing at similar to 90% at similar to 350 degrees C, and was slightly less favored in a humidified air stream. Bromide builds up on the catalyst at temperatures below 300 degrees C, but burns off as the temperature increases. Catalytic oxidation by ceria-based catalysts appears to be a promising approach for eliminating MB from QPS fumigation emissions. (c) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.