CuO-based and MnOx-based sorbents modified with Ce and La using sol-gel method, were employed for elemental mercury removal at 120-240 degrees C. The Hg-0 removal activity of Mn2O3/ZSM-5 can be significantly enhanced by doping 50 at.% Ce or 10 at.% La, the Hg-0 removal efficiency increased by 94% and 71%, respectively. The Hg removal ability of CuO/ZSM-5 subtly improved by addition of 50 at.% Ce or 10 at.% La, the Hg-0 removal efficiency ascended only by 6% and 18%, respectively. The XPS results revealed that Hg transformed to HgO, and CuO (or Mn2O3) was reduced to Cu2O (or Mn3O4), which is in agreement with Mars-Maessen mechanism. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.