The behavior of copper-, iron- and cobalt-exchanged ZSM-5 (Si/Al = 20) and bimetallic forms of the same zeolite was investigated with reference to the adsorption of N2O and CO at 303 K. The interactions of both gases with investigated zeolites have been studied using microcalorimetry and infrared spectroscopy. The values of differential heats of adsorption and the amounts of adsorbed gases were determined. Both gases react with the charge-balancing cations as active sites for adsorption. CuZSM-5 shows significantly better performances than FeZSM-5 and CoZSM-5, toward both gases; additionally, nitrous oxide can be chemisorbed on CuZSM-5. Adsorption capabilities of FeZSM-5 and CoZSM5 are increased with the addition of copper ions. The heats of CO interaction with copper-containing samples have been found to be higher then the heats of N2O interaction, while for FeZSM-5 and CoZSM-5 samples similar heats were detected for both gases. In the case of CuZSM-5, as a result of competitive adsorption between previously adsorbed N2O and incoming CO from the gas phase, a surface reaction is found. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.