The activity of different Mg(Fe/Al), Ni(Fe/Al) and Co(Fe/Al) mixed oxides based on hydrotalcite-like compounds have been studied for the catalytic oxidation of trichloroethylene. It has been shown that the Co catalysts are more active than the Ni catalyst, being the Mg catalysts the less active ones. The activity of all the catalysts improves when iron is substituted by aluminum in the catalyst composition. The best results have been obtained with the CoAl mixed oxide derived from hydrotalcite that is a stable, highly active and selective catalyst. These results have been related with the presence of aluminum in the Co3O4 structure that favors, in the presence of oxygen, the formation of O-2(-) sites and enhances the acid properties of the catalyst. The combination of both characteristics maximizes the adsorption and oxidation of the TCE. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.