Two series of Pt/C-catalysts were prepared using pure carbon aerogels as supports. The influence of porosity, surface chemistry and Pt dispersion on the activity of Pt/C combustion catalysts was analyzed. The synthesis of the supports was fitted to have a monomodal pore size distribution in the meso and macropore range respectively. Both supports were functionalized by oxidation treatment with H2O2 or (NH4)(2)S2O8. These treatments did not modify the porosity significantly, but the surface chemistry changed from basic to acid as oxygen content increased. In this way, Pt-dispersion decreased as a result of the low thermal stability of surface carboxylic acid groups. Benzene was selected as target VOCs and the catalytic combustion performance depended mainly on the porous texture and Pt-dispersion, while the variations in the surface chemistry of carbon supports due to oxidation treatments seemed to have a weak influence on this kind of reaction. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.