Disclosed are a porous material comprising particles without substantial
fibrous structure and having pores, the pores having a mean pore diameter in a
meson-pore region, sharp pore size distribution, and at least a part of the pores
being connected three-dimensionally to form a three-dimensional network structure
with random passages, the porous material preferably being of alumina and having
a spongy structure or the porous material preferably being an aggregate of particles
having an aspect ratio of 3 or less; a process of producing the porous material
which includes a step of aging a system capable of becoming an oxide on thermal
decomposition; a catalyst for exhaust gas purification having excellent NOx
removal performance, high resistance against sulfur poisoning, and satisfactory
high-temperature durability which comprises the porous material as a carrier having
supported thereon a noble metal and an NOx storage component; and a
method of exhaust gas purification using the catalyst.
