To improve the deep sulfation of alumina support, the inertness material activated carbon was used as an alternative support for copper/cerium catalysts to remove SO2 from incineration flue gas which contained other air pollutants such as NOchi, CO, CO2, HCl, carbon particulates, and heavy metal vapor. During the 473-820 K, the AC support showed no retention Of SO2. However, the metal Pb composed in the flue gas exhibited the toxic characterization to Nl/AC catalysts, which was due to the outer orbitals of d subshell all paired. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.