Mixed　metal　oxides　Co5 − xCuxAl　(x = 0–0.5)　were　prepared　from　Co-Cu-Al　layered　double　hydroxides　(LDHs)　and　tested　for　benzene　total　oxidation.　By　calcination,　Co-Cu-Al　LDHs　were　mainly　transformed　to　(Co,　Cu)(Co,　Al)2O4　spinels,　where　both　Cu2 +　and　Al3 +　cations　were　incorporated　into　the　spinel　structure.　The　incorporation　of　Cu　significantly　improved　the　Co　oxide　reducibility　and　remarkably　enhanced　the　light-off　activity　as　well　as　the　total　conversion　activity,　indicative　a　strong　interaction　between　Cu2 +　and　Co3 +　active　sites.　The　optimum　Co4.75Cu0.25Al　spinel　mixed　oxide　was　comparable　with　a　0.3%Pd/γ-Al2O3　catalyst,　highlighting　the　promoting　effect　of　structural　modification　with　Cu.　©　2016　Elsevier　B.V.