Rod-shaped V2O5 was synthesized using the solution combustion technique, and the morphology of the compound was confirmed by TEM. Rods of an average diameter of 500 nm and length 3-6 times the diameter were obtained after the calcination of freshly prepared V2O5 at 550°C for 24 h. Pd metal nanoparticles of 20 nm size were deposited onto the rods using the wet impregnation technique. The as-synthesized, calcined and Pd impregnated V2O5 were characterized by a wide variety of techniques including energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. These compounds were tested for CO oxidation, adsorption, and photocatalytic degradation of dyes. The 1% Pd/V2O5 showed a high activity for CO oxidation, the as-synthesized compound showed activity for the adsorption of cationic dyes, whereas the calcined V2O5 sample showed high rates of photocatalytic degradation of dyes. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE).