The catalytic activity in complete benzene oxidation (CBO) over gold catalysts supported on titania and ceria was studied. As promoters either vanadia or molybdena were applied, it was established that gold catalysts supported on ceria exhibit higher activity than those supported on titania. In the case of ceria as a support the catalytic activity of molybdena promoted gold catalyst was higher in comparison to the vanadia promoted one. When titania was used as a support the molybdena promoted sample exhibits much less activity than that promoted by vanadia. The catalytic activity results were in accordance with the data obtained by the TPR and Raman spectroscopy measurements. A good correlation between CBO and reduction activities of the catalysts was found. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.