Carbon-based　catalysts　offer　a　cost-effective　solution　for　VOC　catalytic　removal,　featuring　abundant　porosity　that　enables　the　dispersion　of　metal　active　sites.　This　study　presents　a　facile　synthesis　protocol　for　activated　carbon　(AC)　supported　Mn/Ce　oxide　catalysts,　revealing　the　significant　role　of　N-doping　in　enhancing　toluene　catalytic　oxidation.　During　the　activation　process,　the　incorporation　of　Mn/Ce　salts　into　carbon　precursor　(coal)　promoted　the　formation　of　micropore　and　graphitic　structure　in　resultant　ACs,　whilst　Mn/Ce　salts　were　converted　to　oxide　nanoparticles　uniformly　distributed　on　the　carbon　surface.　Additionally,　the　introduction　of　a　nitrogen　source　(EDTA)　resulted　in　4.0　at.%　N　doping　within　the　carbon　matrix,　including　1.44　at.%　pyridinic-N.　At　250　°C　and　300　°C,　the　N-doped　AC　exhibited　toluene　removal　efficiencies　of　90.1　%　and　95.4　%,　respectively,　with　decent　thermal　stability　and　resistance　to　irreversible　sulfur　(SO2)　poisoning.　In-situ　DRIFTS,　O2-TPD,　and　XPS　analysis　confirmed　that　N-doping　boosted　O2　activation　on　the　carbon　surface,　facilitating　toluene　oxidation　via　the　L-H　(Langmuir-Hinshelwood　mechanism),　and　promoting　the　restoration　of　oxygen　vacancy　in　Mn/Ce　oxides　through　the　MvK　(Mars-van　Krevelen)　mechanism.　These　findings　provide　new　insights　into　the　synergistic　interactions　between　N-doping　sites　on　carbon　supports　and　metal　active　sites,　highlighting　their　combined　role　in　the　catalytic　oxidation　of　toluene.　©　2025　The　Korean　Society　of　Industrial　and　Engineering　Chemistry