Au-based catalysts, known for ambient temperature CO oxidation, have to provide stable performance of up to 5000 h in order to be commercially applicable in automotive fuel cells. In this report, the on-line deactivation characteristics of Au/TiO2 in unconventional PROX conditions are discussed. As opposed to CO removal from air, results in this report suggests that carbonates have a minor effect on deactivation of Au/TiO2 in dry HZ-rich conditions. Also, no conclusive correlation between surface hydration and deactivation was observed. Rather, deactivation appeared to have occurred as a result of an intrinsic transformation in the oxidation state of the active species in the reducing operating conditions; a process which was reversible in an oxidizing atmosphere. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.