The current literature concerning the catalytic destruction of dioxins and of related model compounds is reviewed. Several different catalyst formulations have been tested, but V-rich vanadia-tungsta-titania catalysts seem to be mostly applied and allow reducing the dioxins concentration well below the limits of 0.1 ng TEQ/Nm(3), as required by the EU directives. Other catalysts (in particular the noble metal-based ones) seem to be less efficient, due to deactivation effects and/or a considerable amount of polychlorinated by-products formation during oxidation activity. The coupled de-NOx and dioxin destruction systems compete with activated carbon adsorption for efficiency in PCDD/F removal from gases. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.