The dehydration of cyclododecanol with copper(II) sulfate (anhydrous, monohydrate, and pentahydrate) unsupported and supported on silica (prepared in situ and as a preformed catalyst) was studied to develop an improved method for dehydrating secondary alcohols. The dehydration progress, synergism of the catalyst(s), and purity of the products were monitored by gas chromatography. Reactions were studied in refluxing octane, a series of aromatic hydrocarbons, and tetrachloroethylene. A comparison is made of dehydration methods contrasting the use of a reflux condenser with no provision for removing water, a conventional Dean-Stark apparatus, and a modified Dean-Stark apparatus incorporating a molecular sieve (AW-500). Aluminum potassium sulfate, supported on silica, was also shown to be an effective dehydration catalyst. The supported catalysts did not cause formation of side products and were found to retain activity in multiple runs. Characterization of the catalysts was performed using Brunauer-Emmett Teller surface area measurements, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis/differential thermal analysis, and Hammett indicators.