Acetylene as a reducing agent for selective catalytic reduction of NO (C 2 H 2 -SCR) was investigated over a series of metal exchanged HY catalysts, in the reaction system of 0.16% NO, 0.08% C 2 H 2 , and 9.95% O 2 (volume percent) in He. 75% of NO conversion to N 2 with hydrocarbon efficiency about 1.5 was achieved over a Ce-HY catalyst around 300 ℃. The NO removal level was comparable with that of selective catalytic reduction of NO x by C 3 H 6 reported in literatures, although only one third of the reducing agent in carbon moles was used in the C 2 H 2 -SCR of NO. The protons in zeolite were crucial to the C 2 H 2 -SCR of NO, and the performance of HY in the reaction was significantly promoted by cerium incorporation into the zeolite. NO 2 was proposed to be the intermediate of NO reduction to N 2 , and the oxidation of NO to NO 2 was rate-determining step of the C 2 H 2 -SCR of NO over Ce-HY. The suggestion was well supported by the results of the NO oxidation with O 2 , and the C 2 H 2 consumption under the conditions in the presence or absence of NO.