In this paper, the vanadium extraction tailings (VT) by sodium roasting-water leaching were used to prepare the active catalyst by activate treatment to explore denitrification. The influence of activating parameters and denitrification conditions on NOX removal of the catalyst were analyzed with selective catalytic reduction (NH3-SCR). The surface behavior was characterized by BET, SEM, XPS, H-2-TPR, and NH3-TPD. The results show that optimal catalyst was prepared under the conditions that acid medium was 12% (volume fraction) HNO3, particle size of VT was less than 38 mu m, and calcination temperature was 500 degrees C; its NO conversion rate reached 95% under the denitrification conditions of 5% O-2, 500 ppm NO, 500 ppm NH3, and gas hourly space velocity 50000 h(-1). The optimal catalyst performed well for against SO2 poisoning but bad for H2O. The specific surface area and specific pore volume of optimal catalyst increased by 11.10 and 7.95 times compared with VT. The optimal catalyst featured a greater ratio of Fe3+, Mn4+, V5+, and chemisorbed oxygen, lower temperature of iron reduction, and higher H-2 adsorption peak, which were in favor of NOX removal. Moreover, its surface acidity was enhanced reflecting in a larger NH3 desorption peak area and a 43 degrees C higher desorption temperature than VT.