Studies of characterization and electrochemical promotion of the electrochemical catalyst Pt/K-beta Al2O3 for low-temperature propene combustion are reported for the first time. Characterization of Pt/K-beta Al2O3 by surface titration, SEM, and XRD revealed useful information about the electrochemical catalyst. On the other hand, it was found that Pt/K-beta Al2O3 can be strongly promoted at low temperature for propene oxidation under both near-stoichiometric and oxygen-rich conditions. For instance, under C3H6/O-2: 2000 ppm/7% at 200 degrees C, a rate enhancement ratio (rho(CO2)) of 7 was achieved under application Of (WR)-W-V = -2 V, increasing propene conversion from 10 to 70%. In addition, the origin of the NEMCA effect was investigated using cyclic voltammetry along with CO2 analysis as well as FTIR measurements and SEM-EDX analysis. These techniques showed that the presence of more stable and effective promoter phases (potassium oxides and superoxides) were responsible for both a permanent NEMCA effect and a higher promotional phenomenon in comparison to sodium conductors. (C) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.