The activity of several catalysts are studied in the soot combustion reaction using air and NO/air as oxidising agents. Over Al2O3-supported catalysts NO(,) is a promoter for the combustion reaction with the extent of promotion depending on the Na loading. Over these catalysts SD42- poisons this promotion by preventing NO oxidation through a site blocking mechanism. SiO2 is Unable to adsorb NO or catalyse its oxidation and over SiO2-supported Na catalysts NO(g) inhibits the combustion reaction. This is ascribed to a competition between NO and O-2. Over Fe-ZSM-5 catalysts the presence of a NOx trapping component does not increase the combustion of soot in the presence of NO(g) and it is proposed that this previously reported effect is only seen under continuous NOx trap operation as NO2 is periodically released during regeneration and thus available for soot combustion. Experiments during which the [NO](()g()) is varied show that CO, rather than an adsorbed carbonyl-like intermediate, is formed upon reaction between NO2 (the proposed oxygen carrier) and soot. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.