BACKGROUND: To find an appropriate catalyst in the adsorption plasma catalytic process, degradation of toluene over 13X zeolite supported catalysts were studied. RESULTS: 13X zeolite exhibited excellent toluene adsorption capacity but weak catalytic ability. After loading Cu, Co, Ce and Mg active compounds by the impregnation method, adsorption capacity was reduced and catalytic performance was significantly improved. Co/13X exhibited good adsorption capacity and excellent catalytic performance, which carbon balance was 81.6% with 74.4% of COx for toluene adsorption capacity of 0.51 mmol. The effect of cobalt loading and calcination temperature on Co/13X for toluene degradation were studied, and it was found that 5% and 500 degrees C were the optimum loading value and calcination temperature. The characterization results of BET, FTIR, XRD, XPS and SEMwere correlated with catalyst performance. CONCLUSIONS: The active compounds block the pores and reduce the specific surface area of 13X zeolite, but active sites of catalysts can decompose ozone to produce more atomic oxygen species. Co3+ could form pi-complexation bonding with toluene and Co3O4 is a P-type semiconductor, which has large oxygen adsorption capacity and converts oxygen into O- and O2- easily. Co3O4 present in Co/13X is the active point for toluene degradation by adsorption and plasma catalytic activity. (C) 2017 Society of Chemical Industry