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Abstract

The invention relates to a novel catalyst having excellent activity, selectivity and stability for reducing nitric oxide to gas nitrogen, with hydrogen being used as a reducing agent, in the low temperature range 100–200° C. and in the presence of an excess of oxygen (e.g. 5% vol), HO (5% vol) and/or SO(20 ppm) in the supply. The inventive catalyst consists of platinum crystals which are in contact with the phases of a mixed MgO and CeOmedium or in the form of platinum supported on the mixed MgO—CeOmedium which has already been sulphated in a selective manner. The Pt/MgO—CeOcatalyst can be used to obtain NO conversion levels which are greater than 40% and nitrogen selectivity values of greater than 80% under NOx oxidation conditions in the 100–400° C. temperature range and for a surface contact time of 0.045 s. In particular, full NO conversion is obtained as well as Nselectivity levels of 83% at 150° C. with a reaction mixture of 0.25% NO/1% H/5% O/5% HO/He.