The catalytic activities of Fe/Beta (i.e., by incipient wetness impregnation) zeolite catalysts with various Fe loadings were investigated for the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of nitric oxide by ammonia. Their stabilities and deactivation behavior were studied via hydrothermal aging and hydrocarbon coking. The results showed that NO conversion over 2.5 wt% Fe/Beta catalyst could reach 97.0% in the temperature range of 300-500 degrees C at a high space velocity (1.9 x 105 h(-1)). The Fe/Beta catalyst showed stability up to a hydrothermal aging temperature of 750 degrees C. XRD results showed that the structure of Fe/Beta was altered by hydrothermal aging over 750 degrees C, with significant de-alumination as well as a decrease of lattice constants at 900 degrees C. The catalysts after deactivation by the presence of propylene could be fully regenerated by burning off the coke in the reactants over 450 degrees C or in air at 550 degrees C. It was found that the deposition of carbon species on Fe/Beta decreased its activity for forming NO2 as evidenced by FTIR. XPS results showed that the introduction of C3H6 in the reactants resulted in partial reduction of Fe2+ thereby decreased the activity of Fe/Beta for NO SCR. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.