A Ce-Mn mixed oxide with the Mn/(Ce + Mn) molar ratio of 0.25 (designated as CeMn) was prepared by the glycolthermal method, and NO decomposition activities of CeMn modified with various species (alkali and alkaline earth species and noble metals) were examined. Although CeMn itself exhibited only a low activity for the direct decomposition of NO into N-2 and O-2, CeMn modified with alkali or alkaline earth species exhibited significant activities. The CO2-TPD experiment indicated that the NO decomposition activity of the catalysts was correlated with their basicities. The highest NO conversion was achieved by a Ba/CeMn system. The NO conversion on the Ba/CeMn catalyst increased with increasing reaction temperature, and 67% of NO conversion was attained at 800 degrees C. This catalyst retained a high activity (50% at 800 degrees C) even in the presence of 5% CO2 in the feed gas. (C) 2010 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.