Rod-shaped V2O5 was synthesized using the solution combustion technique, and the morphology of the compound was confirmed by TEM. Rods of an average diameter of 500 nm and length 3-6 times the diameter were obtained after the calcination of freshly prepared V2O5 at 550 degrees C for 24 h. Pd metal nanoparticles of 20 nm size were deposited onto the rods using the wet impregnation technique. The as-synthesized, calcined and Pd impregnated V2O5 were characterized by a wide variety of techniques including energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. These compounds were tested for CO oxidation, adsorption, and photocatalytic degradation of dyes. The 1% Pd/V2O5 showed a high activity for CO oxidation, the as-synthesized compound showed activity for the adsorption of cationic dyes, whereas the calcined V2O5 sample showed high rates of photocatalytic degradation of dyes. (C) 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 57: 2215-2228, 2011