The aim of this work was to reveal the main factors which affect the oxidation of chlorobenzene (PhC1) over palladium and platinum supported on alumina pillared clays. The catalysts were prepared by wet impregnation of an alumina-pillared montmorillonite (Al-PILC) with palladium and platinum solutions and characterized by several physicochemical techniques before and after the catalytic tests. During oxidation of PhClover the catalysts, the formation of carbon dioxide along with small quantities of carbon monoxide, PhClx, and coke was found. The nature of the supported metal, the temperature, the metal loading, the support, and the time on stream, are factors affecting the combustion of PhCl. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.