In this study, a series of catalysts supported on charcoal (C) from thinned wood were synthesized to investigate their activity for catalytic oxidation of volatile organic compounds. To improve the catalyst thermal stability, the charcoal-supported catalyst was thermal-treated at 1000 degrees C in He gas. Charcoal-supported Co, Ni and Fe catalysts (Co/C, Ni/C, Fe/C) were applied to the oxidation of toluene(C(7)H(8)), and Co/C was the most active among the tested catalysts. Adding Co to the charcoal shifted the thermal stability of charcoal to a higher temperature because some of the carbon was graphitized. Co/C was also applied to oxidation of ethyl acetate (C(4)H(8)O(2)), and showed similar activity for this reaction to Pt/gamma-Al(2)O(3). No deactivation of the Co/C catalyst was observed during a 40 h durability test.