. Toluene hydrogenation has been used to obtain an estimation of the platinum dispersion on the investigated catalysts. On the other hand, their catalytic behavior has been evaluated in the total oxidation of ethanol, selected as a VOCs probe molecule. A much higher catalytic activity and selectivity to CO2 was achieved with chlorinated catalysts. This behavior has been correlated with a high platinum dispersion and a strong metal-CeO2 interaction in these catalysts which promotes their redox properties. This is a previous version of the article published in Catalysis Today. 2015Today. , 249: 109-116. doi:10.1016Today. /j.cattod.2014 Highlights -Highly efficient catalysts for the complete oxidation of ethanol have been developed.-The use of CeO 2 as promoter is optimized by dispersing it over the activated carbon surface.-Impact of the platinum precursor (chlorinated or Cl-free) on the catalytic activity.-Pt/CeO 2 /C catalysts are more active than Pt/CeO 2 . K, ICP, XRD, H 2 -TPR and XPS). Toluene hydrogenation has been used to obtain an estimation of the platinum dispersion on the investigated catalysts. On the other hand, their catalytic behavior has been evaluated in the total oxidation of ethanol, selected as a VOCs probe molecule. A much higher catalytic activity and selectivity to CO 2 was achieved with chlorinated catalysts. This behavior has been correlated with a high platinum dispersion and a strong metal-CeO 2 interaction in these catalysts which promotes their redox properties.