Cobalt catalysts supported on metal oxides (CeO2, TiO2 and Al2O3) were prepared to investigate the effects of the support for the complete oxidation of propene, a model volatile organic compound of hydrocarbon type. The presence of ethylenediamine during the preparation of Co/metal oxides was also studied and compared with a conventionally prepared catalyst. Addition of an aqueous solution of ethylenediamine to a cobalt nitrate solution had a promotional effect on the catalytic performance of the solids. More activated oxygen species are available for propene oxidation due to the highest cobalt dispersion obtained when ethylenediamine is used during the synthesis. But the activation of oxygen species and the reducibility of the catalyst depend on the support used. The Co/CeO2 catalysts, synthesized by two protocols, presented the highest propene oxidation activity from the series due to the highest synergistic coupling of the redox properties of CeO2 and Co3O4.