Different synthesis methods such as homogeneous precipitation at room temperature and supercritical water (T > 647 K and P > 22.1 MPa) were employed for cerium oxide preparation. Additionally, deposition of ceria on silica mesoporous material, SBA-15, was carried out. The obtained materials were characterized by means of X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, nitrogen physisorption, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and CO2 temperature programmed desorption. Considerable variations in physico-chemical properties of the resulting materials were observed. The catalytic activities of pristine cerium oxide and ceria loaded on SBA-15 support were compared. The test reaction was synthesis of diethyl carbonate starting from carbon dioxide and ethanol using butylene oxide as the dehydrating agent. (C) 2013 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.