A composition and method for producing the same are provided. The composition includes transition metal oxides adhered to a surface of a cerium oxide support, and can additionally include alkali metal or alkaline earth metal promotors. The method includes incipient wetness impregnation of the support with metal salt in solution, and can include impregnation with a metal chelator salt. The composition can be useful as a catalyst for the reduction of noxious gases in combustion exhaust streams. The composition can be of particular use as a component of an automobile catalytic converter, for the specific catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides to nitrogen gas.