In this work, a series of metal oxides (Fe, Cu) modified HZSM-5 catalysts were synthesized by incipient-wetness impregnation method and then characterized by XRD, N-2 adsorption-desorption, H-2-TPR, NH3-TPD, UV-vis, FT-IR and XPS measurements. The catalytic hydrolysis and oxidation behaviors toward HCN were investigated. The results indicated that the Fe-Cu/HZSM-5 catalysts exhibited more excellent performence on coupling catalytic hydrolysis and oxidation of HCN than HZSM-5, Fe/HZSM-5, Cu/HZSM-5, and both nearly 100% HCN conversion and 80% N-2 selectivity were obtained at about 250 degrees C. The improved catalytic performance could be ascribed to the creation of highly dispersed iron and copper composites on the surface of the HZSM-5 support, the excellent redox and regulated acid properties of the active ingredients. Moreover, the highly N-2 selectivity could be attributed to the good interaction between the Fe and Cu nanocomposites which was facilitated to the NH3-SCR (selective catalytic reduction of NO by NH3) reaction. (C) 2017 Published by Elsevier B.V.