Catalytic oxidation of benzene over zeolite-supported manganese oxide catalysts was investigated. Manganese oxides supported on Y zeolite catalysts with high Si/Al ratio (SiO(2)/Al(2)O(3) = 180) showed stable activity for benzene oxidation with ozone at the reaction temperature of 300 K in the presence of water vapor (water vapor concentration: 0.8%). EXAFS studies revealed that manganese oxides were highly dispersed on the zeolite catalysts and the active sites for benzene oxidation with ozone. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.