Vanadium-based catalysts have been investigated in the partial oxidation of ethanol to acetaldehyde with the aim of understanding relationship between vanadium structure and acetaldehyde productivity. Hydrotalcite, Al2O3, TiO2 and SBA-15 with and without a 5% of vanadium content were prepared to study the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethanol. They were characterized by XRF, TPR (H-2), NH3-TPD, CO2-TPD, RAMAN, UV-vis, Nitrogen physisorption, XRD and SEM. The most easily reducible catalysts (as determined by TPR) were the most active ones. In the low temperature region (150 degrees C), the most active catalyst was the V/TiO2 which presented stable activity in the production of acetaldehyde up to TOS = 200 h. On the contrary, in the high temperature region (250 degrees C), the most active catalyst was the V/Al(2)O(3)catalyst. The most promising result was obtained over V/TiO2 catalyst that afforded a total ethanol conversion of 60.4%wt. and a selectivity to acetaldehyde of 76.2%wt. at TOS = 164 h and T= 150 degrees C. Also, hydrotalcite was tested for the first time for this type of reaction providing a conversion lower than 7%wt. with a selectivity of 100%wt. to acetaldehyde at T= 150-225 degrees C. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.