The selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO by hydrocarbon is an efficient way to remove NO emission from lean-burn gasoline and diesel exhaust. In this paper, a thermally and hydrothermally stable Al-Ce-pillared clay (Al-Ce-PILC) was synthesized and then modified by SO42-, whose surface area and average pore diameter calcined at 773 K were 161 m(2)/g and 12.15 nm, respectively. Copper-impregnated Al-Ce-pillared clay catalyst (CU/SO42-/Al-Ce-PILC) was applied for the SCR of NO by C3H6 in the presence of oxygen. The catalyst 2 wt% CU/SO42-/Al-Ce-PILC showed good performance over a broad range of temperature, its maximum conversion of NO was 56% at 623 K and remained as high as 22% at 973 K. Furthermore, the presence of 10% water slightly decreased its activity, and this effect was reversible following the removal of water from the feed. Py-IR results showed SO42- modification greatly enhanced the number and strength of Bronsted acidity on the surface of CU/SO42-/Al-Ce-PILC, which played a vital role in the improvement of NO conversion. TPR and XPS results indicated that both Cu+ and isolated Cu2+ species existed on the optimal catalyst, mainly Cu+, as Cu content increased to 5 wt%, another species CuO aggregates which facilitated the combustion of C3H6 were formed.(C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.