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Supported base metal catalysts were tested for the preferential oxidation of CO (CO PROX). The catalysts we investigated covered a wide range of transition metals (Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Zn) supported on oxides with very different acidic, basic and redox properties (MgO, La₂O₃, SiO₂–Al₂O₃, CeO₂, Ce_0.63Zr_0.37O₂). The influence of the metal loading (Cu), the support properties (acidity, basicity, redox, surface area) and the reaction conditions (reaction temperature, feed composition) on the catalyst activity and selectivity was evaluated. The activity of ceria and ceria–zirconia supported copper catalysts was comparable to the performances of noble metal samples classically used for the PROX reaction. In addition, Cu–CeO₂ catalysts showed a practically constant and high selectivity towards CO oxidation in the temperature range of 50–150°C. Due to the strong synergetic effect between copper and ceria, only a small …