The selective catalytic oxidation of ammonia to nitrogen (NH3-SCO) has been studied over hydrotalcite derived mixed metal oxides containing Cu, Co, Fe or Ni. XRD, BET, NH3-TPD and TPR techniques were used for catalysts characterization. Results of NH3-SCO were compared with those of selective catalytic reduction of NO with NH3 (NO-SCR). Reaction mechanism was studied by temperature-programmed surface reaction (TPSR) and activity tests with a various contact time. Catalytic performance of the studied samples depends on both kind and loading of transition metals in the mixed metal oxide system. The Cu-containing samples have been found to be the most active catalysts of the NH3-SCO process. Transition metal loading strongly influences distribution of ammonia oxidation products. The highest selectivity to N-2 was measured for the catalysts with the lowest transition metal content. © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.