In this work, various bi-functional ZrO2 catalysts were synthesized by precipitation method with different zirconium precursor and precipitant under different calcination temperature. N-2 adsorption-desorption method (BET), temperature programmed desorption (TPD) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to characterize the ZrO2 catalyst. Conversions of ethanol to propylene were studied on these various ZrO2 catalysts. Results showed that the excellent catalytic performance of ethanol to propylene was obtained over ZrO2 catalyst. The highest propylene yield was 40.2%, which is obtained on ZrO2 synthesized by the precipitation of ZrO(NO3)(2)center dot 2H(2)O and NH3 center dot H2O and then calcined at 823 K. The effects of reaction contact time on the conversion of ethanol to propylene were also investigated over ZrO2 catalysts. Based on the results, the reaction pathways were suggested to be ethanol -> ethylene, and ethanol -> acetaldehyde -> acetone -> propylene. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.