A new method for preparing vanadium oxide supported on carbon-ceramic cellular monoliths is described. This includes a support oxidation step with HNO3, followed by ionic exchange with a NaOH solution, equilibrium adsorption impregnation of VO2+ and thermal treatment. As a result an active catalyst for low-temperature selective catalytic reduction (SCR) reaction is obtained. The V-catalyst is more resistant to SO2 poisoning than the previously developed Mn-catalyst. Inhibition by water is reversible for both types of catalysts. Testing of the vanadium catalyst after subjecting it to the outlet gas stream of a power plant shows fast deactivation until constant residual activity is reached. Deactivation seems to be caused by arsenic poisoning and the formation of superficial sulphates. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.