MnOx catalysts supported on alumina, titania or yttria-stabilised zirconia were studied in ethanol oxidation. Catalysts were characterized by determining their XRD. TPR, TPD-O-2 and TPD-NH3 properties and light-off behavior. The effect of kind of carrier on activity in the ethanol oxidation and on selectivity to acetaldehyde (ACA) was determined. Relation between the TPR properties of the catalysts and their activity in ethanol conversion is suggested. The maximum of selectivity to ACA appears in the same sequence of temperatures as the first peak of oxygen desorption from supported MnOx catalysts. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.