Pure alumina and alumina supported platinum catalysts were used in n-butanol removal reaction. Platinum catalysts were prepared by two different methods and characterized by N-2 adsorption isotherms, ICP, H-2 chemisorption and TEM. Acid-base properties of catalysts were studied by pyridine and carbon dioxide adsorption-desorption followed by FTIR. Experiments were performed by changing conditions (with or without oxygen and/or water) to determine some correlation between the reactivity and the acid-base properties of the catalysts and to study the effect of water on the reactivity. In the absence of oxygen, dehydration of n-butanol occurs whereas in the presence of oxygen the n-butanol is oxidized. In presence of oxygen, butanal is the only by-product observed whereas in absence of oxygen butene isomerization products are also observed. N-butanol dehydration involves the catalyst acidity whereas the reaction of dehydrogenation involves the basic character of the catalyst. Platinum addition changes the properties of alumina and increases the activity of catalyst for all these reactions. In large amount, water appears as an inhibitor for n-butanol oxidation. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.