Iron-zirconia catalysts are prepared with varying Fe content by co-precipitation method. Catalysts activity and stability are elucidated in vapour phase oxidation of DMS using ozone as an oxidant and compared with that of oxygen. In absence of ozone the catalysts are observed very low activity whereas the ozone is directly influencing the Fe2O3 redox cycle. Results reveal that the Fe content and reaction temperature have significant influence on the activity. The activation energy for conversion process is observed to be considerably low with ozone compared to that of oxygen. The 20% Fe containing catalyst is not deactivated for 80 h of operation. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.