A catalyst for use in the removal of oxides of nitrogen from effluent gas consisting essentially of (a) 96-99.5% by weight of an oxide of at least one of the metals iron, chromium and vanadium, (b) a promoter selected from the group consisting of an oxide of at least one rare earth metal, present in an amount of 4-0.5% by weight, said catalyst having a specific surface within the range of 20-100 m.sup.2 /gm and having the pores therein with a maximum dimension within the range of 100-5000 A, said catalyst being prepared by the thermal decomposition of an intimate mixture of the nitrate of at least one of the metals iron and chromium and, when vanadium is to be present, of vanadium pentoxide powder and a water-soluble form of one of the said promoters, said thermal decomposition taking place in a series of steps the first of which is effected at substantially 200.degree. C for substantially 1 hour, each succeeding heating step taking place at a temperature substantially 50.degree. C higher than the preceding step and lasting substantially 1 hour with the final heating step taking place at substantially 600.degree. C and lasting substantially 1 hour.