An open cell foam catalyst consisting of a glass foam support impregnated with zerovalent ruthenium nanoparticles (aiming to 0.1 wt %) without washcoating was used for the first time to remove several volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by thermocatalytic oxidation. At initial concentrations between and 2 g.m(-3) and temperatures ranging from 100 to 350 degrees C, up to 100% of removal was achieved for the four VOCs tested. The ease of abatement of the VOCs with temperature had the following order: ethanol > acetone > toluene > heptane. The removal of ethanol was then modeled considering mass-transfer limitation, temperature dependency, and by-product formation. Full mineralization of ethanol can be achieved with a 30 cm length reactor at 150 degrees C and 0.010 m.s(-1). While the tortuous foam achieved efficient mass transfer, the process was still limited by this phenomenon highlighting that the efficiency of the catalyst could be improved at higher gas velocities.