Nano-crystalline cerium oxide catalysts have been prepared by precipitation and evaluated for the total catalytic oxidation of naphthalene, which is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH). Ceria synthesised by precipitation with urea was the most active catalyst for oxidation of naphthalene to carbon dioxide. The urea precipitated CeO2 demonstrated over 90% naphthalene conversion to carbon dioxide at 175 degrees C (100 ppm naphthalene, GHSV=25,000 h(-1)), whilst ceria precipitated via a carbonate only gave 90% conversion at 275 degrees C. Comparison with known high activity total oxidation catalysts, Mn2O3 and 0.5% Pt/gamma-Al2O3, showed that the urea precipitated CeO2 was a more effective catalyst for naphthalene total oxidation. At temperatures below those required to achieve catalytic activity the adsorption capacity of urea precipitated ceria for naphthalene was considerably greater than any of the other catalysts examined. The high adsorption capacity of the material provides the advantage that it can be used as a combined catalyst and adsorbent to remove PAHs from waste streams.