The reduction of N2O with H-2 and CO has been investigated on Au/TiO2, Au/Al2O3, Au/(MOx)-O-1/(MOx)-O-II/Al2O3, and Au/MOx/Al2O3 (M-I, (II), M = Li, Rb, Mg, Co, Mn, Ce, La, Ti). In addition, for comparison, the oxidation reactions of H-2 and CO with O-2 have been studied on some selected catalysts. All the samples are highly active at low temperatures for all the reactions. The oxides added to Au/Al2O3 improve the catalytic performance of gold. Interesting and synergistic effects were observed when a mixture of metal oxides is added to Au/Al2O3, e.g., Rb2O (Li2O) and CeOx. Possible mechanisms are proposed. (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.