Cu/AlPO4 catalysts with Cu loading of 1, 2.5 and 5 wt% were prepared by by Cu (II) ion complexes exchange. The catalysts were characterized, at different steps of treatment, by means of several techniques, such as UV-vis-NIR and ESR spectroscopy, TPR/TPO analysis, TEM investigations, butan-2-ol conversion. The NO reduction by CO in presence of oxygen under stoichiometric conditions was investigated. The NO reduction was 100% selective to N-2. The most active catalyst was 5Cu/AlPO4 containing the highest amount of dispersed surface copper (II) species, reducible at low temperature. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.