In the present work, the complete oxidation of acetone has been studied over a series of supported manganese oxide catalysts on the unpillared and the Al- and Zr-pillared forms of two natural clays, a niontmorillonite and a saponite. A significant influence of the clay supports characteristics on the catalytic performance has been found. The following order of improving catalytic performance is established with respect to the pillars composition: M-pillared clays < unpillared clays < Zr-pillared clays. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.