The Au/CeO2 catalysts were synthesized by co-precipitation (CP), deposition-precipitation (DP) and metallic colloids deposition (MCD) method, and tested for oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). It was revealed that the Au/CeO2 catalyst prepared by DP method was the most efficient catalyst towards the total oxidation of toluene. The Au/CeO2 catalysts had obviously high catalytic activity, and the best results was obtained on 3 wt.% Au/CeO2 catalyst prepared by DP method. These catalysts were characterized by means of specific surface area (BET), atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), temperature programmed reduction (TPR), X-ray pho- toelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). XRD data showed that only metallic Au phase existed in the cata- lysts, and the size of gold particles played a crucial role in the catalytic conversion of toluene. The catalytic activity of Au/CeO2 was related to the interaction between gold particles and supports, and the capability of gold particles to weaken the surface Ce-O bonds adjacent to Au atoms. This interaction enhanced the reactivity of the CeO2 surface capping oxygen which was involved in volatile organic compounds oxidation. The Au / CeO2 catalysts were synthesized by co-precipitation (CP), deposition-precipitation (DP) and metallic colloids deposition (MCD) method, and tested for oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) catalyst prepared by DP method was the most efficient catalyst towards the total oxidation of toluene. The Au / CeO2 catalysts had obviously high catalytic activity, and the best results was obtained on 3 wt.% Au / CeO2 catalyst prepared by DP method. atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), temperature programmed reduction (TPR), X-ray pho- toelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and transmission electron microscopy TEM). XRD data showed that only metallic Au phase existed in the cata- lysts, and the size of gold particles played a crucial role in the catalytic conversion of toluene. The catalytic activity of Au / CeO2 was related to the interaction between gold particulars les and supports, and the capability of gold particles to weaken the surface Ce-O bonds adjacent to Au atoms. This interaction enhanced the reactivity of the CeO2 surface capping oxygen which was involved in volatile organic compounds oxidation.