Dimethyl ether is an excellent clean burning transportation fuel alternate for compression ignition engines and also an excellent fuel for household use. In the present study, catalytic performances of different alumina based catalysts, namely alumina impregnated SBA-15, a mesoporous aluminosilicate, which was synthesized following a one-pot hydrothermal procedure, and a commercial alumina catalyst, were tested in dehydration of methanol to produce dimethyl ether. Alumina impregnated SBA-15 had high Bronsted acidity, which facilitated the formation of dimethyl ether. This catalyst showed methanol conversion values close to equilibrium and about 100% dimethyl ether selectivity, at temperatures over 300 degrees C. The commercial alumina catalyst Al-T also showed very good performance in DME synthesis from methanol, even at temperatures lower than 300 degrees C. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.