Abstract: In a pilot scale reactor packed with a liter of catalyst the performance of a reverse flow reactor for catalytic combustion of typical industrial waste gas containing aromatics was systematically investigated. In a wide range over 490—3920mg•m^-3 of contaminants concentration,15—60min of periodic duration,(2.4—9.6)×10³ h^-1 of space velocity and 0.340—1.359 m•s^-1 of gas velocity,the influence of operating parameters such as the feed concentration of VOCs, the periodic duration and gas velocity on the characteristics of heat wave was studied. The results showed that the variation in the operation parameters which strongly influenced the heat balance of the reactor in a cycle would lead to a considerable change in the axial temperature profile of the reactor. This work provided the data for the design, operation and modeling of this kind of reactors on the pilot scale.