A series of Cu-CeO(2)catalytic materials, with copper loadings in the 5-20 wt% range, was prepared, characterized and tested in the oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde in batch conditions, at 100 degrees C employing water as the solvent. Different CeO(2)and Cu-CeO2 samples were obtained following hydrothermal synthesis, combustion of nitrates, and impregnation of copper salts on ceria surface. The characterization of the catalysts was carried out by N-2 sorptometry, XRD, XPS, SEM, TEM, N2O dissociative chemisorption and FT-IR. Ceria properties play a notable role over copper activity and selectivity for the oxidation of benzyl alcohol. The material prepared by the simple one-pot combustion method, with 18 wt% of copper, showed high activity and high selectivity to the desired product (90% at 40% of conversion).