Hydrodechlorination (HDC) of chlorinated pollutants in water such as 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) and 4-chloroaniline (4-CA) was carried out with catalysts based on Pt and Ir supported pillared clays. Almost complete dechlorination was achieved at short reaction time under mild operation conditions with the Pt catalyst. The incorporation of cerium oxide to the Pt and Ir catalysts (PtCe and IrCe catalysts, respectively) led to a higher dispersion than that of the monometallic ones. The catalyst loaded with Pt showed low reaction rates and conversion while the one modified with increasing amounts of cerium oxide was highly active for conversion of the chlorinated pollutants. On the contrary, the IrCe catalysts were found poorly active due to partial coverage of Ir crystallites by cerium oxide.