A series of Pd ion-substituted CeO2-ZrO2 solid solutions were synthesized using the solution combustion technique. H 2O2-assisted degradation of orange G was carried out in the presence of the catalysts. The activity of the catalysts was found to increase with the introduction of the second component in the solid solution, as signified by an increase in the rate constants and lowering of activation energy. The study showed the involvement of lattice oxygen and the importance of reducibility of the compound for the reaction. © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.