Two SBA-15 type materials were synthesized using a low-cost route, a pure silica SBA-15 and an Al containing SBA-15 (with a Si/Al ratio of 10), where Al was added by a post-synthesis modification. The later solid was achieved without any significant loss in the textural properties of SBA-15, besides improving its properties as support of catalysts. Copper impregnated catalysts were prepared through the incipient wetness impregnation of the two supports. With both supports, the copper weight loading were 1, 3 and 6 wt%. The copper incorporation kept the support mesoporous structures, obtaining a better dispersion of the active phase in the containing aluminium support. All the catalysts showed a moderated catalytic activity in the SCR of NO with propane in presence of an excess of oxygen in the whole studied interval of temperatures and a much better performance was observed when using NH3 instead of propane. The changes of the active phases were studied by operando XAS spectroscopy. Factor analysis of in operando XANES results with sample SiAl_6 indicate that no Cu-0 was detected, but only Cu1+ and Cu2+. The temperature where the Cu1+/Cu2+ ratio is maximum occurs at the reaction temperature where the observed catalytic NO conversion is also maximum. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.