Low-temperature abatement of CO from mixtures as complicated as smoke was considered. Adsorptive and catalytic properties of some amorphous (Al2O3) and crystalline (zeolites) catalyst supports, Ag- and Pd-containing catalysts were investigated. Zeolites with an aperture size around 5 Angstrom were found capable of adsorbing CO at room temperature. Development of Pd catalysts with Ag as catalyst promoter, supported on zeolite (for a shape-selectivity), proved to be a feasible approach to the smoke application. The mechanisms governing the adsorption and catalysis were studied using non-steady-state oxidation of CO on the Ag catalyst. Distribution and migration of the reaction products in the Pd-containing catalysts and some elements of the mechanism of catalysis are discussed based on the gas-flow and gas-pulse experiments and the literature data. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.