The adsorption and coadsorption of selective catalytic reduction (SCR) reactants and reaction products on CuZSM-5-37 containing 11 wt.-% CuO have been studied by FTIR spectroscopy. The catalyst surface is characterized by both weak acidity and weak basicity as revealed by testing with probe molecules (CO2, NH3, H2O). NO2 adsorption results in formation of different kinds of nitrates. The same species are formed when NO is coadsorbed with oxygen at 180 degrees C. NO adsorption at ambient temperature also leads to formation of nitrates as well as of Cu2+-NO species. In the presence of oxygen the latter are converted according to the scheme : NO --> N2O3 --> N2O4 --> NO2 --> NO3. It is concluded that the surface nitrates are important intermediates in the SCR process. They are thermally stable and resistant towards interaction with CO2, N-2, O-2, and art only slightly affected by H2O and NO. However, they posses a high oxidation ability and are fully reduced by propane at 180 degrees C. It is concluded that one of the most important roles of oxygen in SCR by hydrocarbons is to convert NOx into highly active surface nitrates.