The low-temperature water gas shift (WGS) reaction has been carried out at a very high gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) of 36,201 h(-1) over supported Cu catalysts prepared by an incipient wetness impregnation method. The preparation method was optimized to get a highly active CeO2 supported Cu catalyst for low-temperature WGS. Co-precipitated Cu CeO2 exhibited excellent catalytic performance as well as 100% CO2 selectivity. The high activity and stability of co-precipitated Cu CeO2 catalyst is correlated to its easier reducibility, high surface area and the nano-sized CeO2 with CuO species interacting with the support. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.