A highly active Ag/alumina catalyst for continuous reduction of NO to nitrogen with n-octane under lean conditions was prepared. It was observed in the reactor set-up experiments for optimization of the converter, that surface generated gas phase species are crucial for obtaining high conversion. EPR and matrix isolated FTIR studies at low temperature (10-18K) were performed for identification of the radicals. Experimental data, observed at steady state conditions in the temperature range 300-550 degreesC, was used to produce an artificial neural network model of the catalytic converter with four catalyst beds. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.