This paper reports the stability of protonic zeolites (H-ZSM-5, H-MOR and H-BEA) in the catalytic oxidation of trichloroethylene (TCE), focused on determining the causes of the deactivation. The study was conducted by relating the evolution of TCE conversion (with and without water vapor) with the physicochemical properties of the zeolites as a function of time on stream (TOS). The oxidation reactions were carried out in a fixed-bed reactor under 1000 ppmv of TCE in air. We found out that both coke formation and chlorine attack were the causes of H-zeolites' rapid deactivation. Coke was formed from the TCE or the surface intermediates already formed before the TCE oxidation slower step. Chlorine atoms of TCE also caused irreversible deactivation by attacking to Bronsted acid sites, which lead to structural changes. Under wet conditions, H-zeolites were strongly hydrated restoring hydroxyl groups to keep TCE conversion invariably overtime. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.