BACKGROUNDThe oxidation of NO to NO2 is a key step in environmental pollution abatement techniques, such as fast-SCR' or diesel engine catalytic traps. In both cases, the conversion of an important fraction of NO into NO2 is a key step. In this work, two commercially available transition metal oxide catalysts, CuMn and CuCr-based, are studied as an alternative to noble metal catalysts (a Pt/Al2O3 catalyst is used as reference catalyst). RESULTSSteady NO conversion is obtained after the first 1-2h of operation. The experiments, carried out in an isothermal fixed-bed reactor operating at high space velocities (5.60 g(cat) min mol(-1), GHSV(monolith-eq.) = 83 000h(-1)) with 500ppm NO and 20% oxygen, showed that the optimum operating temperature is 380 degrees C for the CuMn catalyst, 430 degrees C for the CuCr catalyst and 366 degrees C for a 0.5% Pt/Al2O3 catalyst. CONCLUSIONSThe CuMn catalyst performed very similarly to the 0.5% Pt/Al2O3 catalyst in the vicinity of 380 degrees C, being a good and cheaper alternative to noble metal catalysts. Kinetic measurements obtained under different conditions, e.g. 3.73-5.60 g(cat) min mol(-1) (GHSV(monolith-eq.) = 83 000-125 000h(-1)), 300-900ppm NO, 1-20% oxygen concentration and 330-480 degrees C, have been found to fit a mechanistic kinetic model based on the reaction between gas nitrogen oxide and adsorbed oxygen. (c) 2014 Society of Chemical Industry