Hydrotalcite derived NiMgAl mixed oxide (NiHT) catalysts with different NiMgAl molar ratio were synthesized and tested in the selective gas-phase hydrodechlorination of trichloroethylene to ethylene. The mixed oxide was further promoted by Pd in order to obtain Pd/NiHT catalysts. The catalysts performances for hydrodechlorination of trichloroethylene depend on the Ni/Mg/Al molar ratio, reduction temperature, and method of noble metal incorporation. The main products obtained were ethylene, methane, ethane, chloroethylene and traces of dichloroethylene. The higher the Ni amount in the NiHT support was, the higher were the catalytic activity and ethylene selectivity. Introduction of Pd increases the catalytic activity. Application of higher reduction temperatures improved the selectivity towards ethylene formation due to an increase in the concentration of surface metallic Ni. A better Pd-Ni surface interaction was obtained by impregnation of Pd on a previously reduced (823 K) NiHT catalyst, resulting in higher ethylene selectivity (80%). The higher selectivity was associated to metallic Ni promoted by a Pd-Ni alloy, which was detected by HRTEM. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.