The effect of compacting on pure and Ag2O doped Fe2O3/MgO nanopartides calcined at 500 degrees C and processed at room temperature and high-pressure using a hydraulic press was investigated. The catalysts were characterized by XRD, S-BET, EPA, and CO2-TPD techniques and the iso-propanol conversion as the catalytic probe reaction. The results revealed that the crystallite size of compacted catalysts is smaller than that of powder ones. The BET surface area of samples decreases by compression. Electron paramagnetic resonance "EPR" result of the FeMgO nanoparticles revealed the presence of paramagnetic species as a result of Ag-doping. The total basicity of the powder catalyst was higher than that of the compact one. Compression affects the distribution of basic sites of powder catalysts. The catalytic activity and propene selectivity of pure powder catalysts are increased by compression. The compacted catalysts can be used as a reusable active catalyst in the iso-propanol conversion. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.