Ceria-zirconia catalysts with 100, 75, 50, 25 and 0 mol% of ceria have been prepared and characterised by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, N-2 physisorption, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and adsorption microcalorimetry of probe molecules. All the catalysts have been tested for the conversion of 4-methylpentan-2-ol into 4-methylpent-1-ene, valuable monomer for plastics manufacture. Steady-state 1-alkene selectivity values ranging between 84 and 59% have been observed. The catalytic behaviour has been interpreted on the basis of competing E1cB, E1 and E2 mechanisms, a well balanced concentration of the acid and basic sites with a high strength of the latter being required for optimum performance. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.