This work describes the use of Co(II) and Ni(II) impregnated SBA‐15 as catalysts for the oxidative degradation of a few persistent chlorinated phenols in an aqueous medium: 2‐chlorophenol (2‐CP), 4‐chlorophenol (4‐CP) and 2,4,6‐trichlorophenol (2,4,6‐TCP). The catalysts were characterised in terms of their crystallographic features, surface topography, functional groups, thermal stability, etc. The oxidation reactions were carried out using the reaction time, concentration of chlorophenol, amount of catalyst and pH of the reaction mixture as the process variables with or without hydrogen peroxide as the chemical oxidising agent. The conversion achieved with Co/SBA‐15 for 2‐CP, 4‐CP and 2,4,6‐TCP was respectively 84.7%, 78.4% and 64.8% with H2O2 and 86.3%, 80.2% and 70.3% in the absence of H2O2. The conversion with Ni/SBA‐15 also at 353 K for 2‐CP, 4‐CP and 2,4,6‐TCP was, respectively, 82.3%, 81.9% and 64.0% at 5 h with H2O2 and 89.5%, 82.9% and 65.6% without H2O2. The reactions followed pseudo‐first‐order kinetics. The leachability study indicated that the catalysts release very little Co and Ni to water. Therefore, the possibility of water contamination through metal leaching was almost negligible. Oxidative degradation was confirmed by measuring the total organic carbon. © 2012 Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering