In this study, catalysts containing 0.5 wt.% of palladium or 5 wt.% of copper were compared towards toluene total oxidation using FAU Zeolite and ZrO2 supports. A 0.5%Pd/NaFAU and 5%Cu/ZrO2 were found to be promising catalysts for this reaction. Palladium presented then a better affinity for FAU zeolite and copper oxide had a better affinity for zirconia. The performances of Pd based catalysts were correlated to. interaction between the active phase and the support whereas the activity of copper oxide was related to oxygen mobility property of the support leading to copper oxide particles easily reducible. Support modifications, yttrium addition for ZrO2 and cation exchange for the zeolite FAU, still enhanced the catalytic activity. Therefore, 0.5%Pd/CsFAU and 5%Cu/Zr95Y5 samples were found to be interesting catalysts for total VOC oxidation. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.