The development of Bronsted acidity and the relationship between acidity, catalytic performance and structure of niobium oxide were investigated for a series of samples prepared by calcination of niobic acid at temperatures between 423 and 823 K. All solids were active for propan-2-ol dehydration. The Bronsted acidity was monitored by adsorption of lutidine and CO followed by FT-IR. Low temperature CO adsorption measurements showed that all solids exhibit essentially the same medium Bronsted acid strength. A direct relationship between the abundance of Bronsted acid sites monitored by lutidine adsorption followed by desorption at 523 K and propan-2-ol dehydration activity was observed. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.