Catalytic decomposition of methylene chloride in air with a concentration of 959 ppm and temperature ranges from 160 to 275 degrees C were studied. Three different sulfated oxide catalysts, TiO2-(SO4), ZrO2-(SO4), CeO2-(SO4) were prepared and their activities and selectivities were measured. The catalytic activity decreased in the order : TiO2-(SO4) > ZrO2-(SO4) > CeO2-(SO4). Complete catalytic decomposition of methylene chloride was achieved at low temperature (275 degrees C) over a sulfated titanium dioxide catalyst. The oxygen adsorption (pick-up) and the acidity values of three catalysts showed the same trend as their activities. The presence of water (2% in volume) in the feed stream reduced the activities remarkably and raised the activation energies for the decomposition reaction. The selectivities among all three catalysts were similar, with HCl, CO and CO2 being the products. A bifunctional catalyst comprising sulfated titanium dioxide with copper oxide was developed to improve the selectivity of catalytic oxidation of methylene chloride towards carbon dioxide.