A study on the dehydrochlorination of trichloroethylene (TCE) with H-2, by using palladium-on-carbon catalysts, is reported. The dehydrohalogenation reaction was performed under mild conditions either on TCE in water solution or on TCE preadsorbed on the carbon-supported catalyst. The results of this latter method suggest the use of palladium-on-carbon as the bifunctional material : for the adsorption of chlorinated compounds from water and their subsequent catalytic dehydrohalogenation. These environmentally friendly processes for TCE disposal have been evaluated in both, batch and continuous experiments.