We have examined the adsorption of CO and NO on powder Pd/Al2O3, Pd-Ce/Al2O3 and CeO2/Al2O3 catalysts, using temperature-programmed desorption (TPD). For CO adsorption on oxidized and pre-reduced Pd-Ce/Al2O3 TPD profiles are identical to those observed for Pd/Al2O3, suggesting that interactions between ceria and Pd have a negligible effect on the adsorption properties of CO. It does, however, affect the oxidation state of the palladium particles. For NO, there are differences between Pd/Al2O3 and Pd-Ce/Al2O3. On oxidized catalysts, Pd/Al2O3 is more efficient for NO dissociation. However, pre-reduction increases the amount of NO that can adsorb on Pd-Ce/Al2O3 and react to N2O and N-2. In comparison with Pd/Al2O3, reduced Pd-Ce/Al2O3 catalysts dissociate NO at relatively high temperatures but they are more reactive and favor N-2 over N2O. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.