The activity of monometallic (Pd or Rh) and bimetallic (iron-bearing) catalysts has been tested in the HDC of 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) in aqueous phase. The catalysts were prepared by a simple procedure consisting of incipient wetness impregnation followed by calcination and reduction at different temperatures. This allowed controlling the size, dispersion and oxidation state of the metallic nanoparticles. Increasing the temperature of calcination led to a higher dispersion of the active phase (from 21 to 46% by increasing the calcination temperature from 200 to 400 degrees C) and a higher ratio of zerovalent to electrodefficient palladium (M-0/Mn+ values from 1.15 to 2.17) in the case of the Pd-catalysts. Those calcined in air at 400 degrees C and reduced with H-2 at 350 degrees C yielded the highest values of the pseudo-first-order rate constant of 4-CP dechlorination (16.2 Lh(-1)g(cat)(-1)). The introduction of iron reduced the metal dispersion of both Pd and Rh but the catalysts maintained their dechlorination activity and showed magnetic properties useful for further separation from the liquid phase. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.