Highly crystalline mixed cobalt- and copper-aluminium oxides were obtained from coprecipitated precursors. These Co-Al and Cu-Al oxide systems appeared to be active catalysts of the total oxidation of toluene in the temperature range of 250-450 degrees C. The study on chemical and phase composition, thermal stability, texture and reducibility of the synthesized samples allowed to identify their active phases in toluene combustion. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.