The catalytic behaviour of Pt supported on carbon-based monoliths was studied in the low-temperature catalytic combustion of benzene, toluene and m-xylene and compared with the corresponding behaviour of Pt supported on gamma-Al2O3 coated monoliths. Carbon-based monoliths showed a much better catalytic performance which is ascribed to the fact that the carbon surface is more hydrophobic than the gamma-Al2O3 one, and the release of water molecules produced during the combustion is favoured. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.