Insight into catalytic performance and reaction mechanism for 1,2-dichloroethane elimination over MnCoOx-supported catalyst

•Highly dispersed MnCoOx is prepared on HZSM-5 by the economic and convenient method.•The T90 of Mn1Co1Ox/H5-50 (215 °C) decreased by 53 °C compared with Mn2O3/H5-50.•The MnCoOx activated the C-Cl to facilitate the dechlorination reactions by DFT results.•The MnCoOx decomposes vinyl alcohol or vinyl chloride to reduce toxic by-products.