The temperature window of NO x consumption lies between 140 and 500 °C. The 0.5 wt%Co/Al2O3 catalyst exhibits a total consumption of NO x between 300 and 350 °C at a space velocity of 50 000 h?1. The presence of acetonitrile and methylnitrite can explain the difference between N2 formation and NOx consumption at T< 400 °C. The Co2+, in octahedral site, has been shown to coordinate two NO molecules.