Nanosized titania and zirconia were prepared by different ways and used as catalysts for CS2 hydrolysis. The hydrolysis activity of the nanosized oxide catalysts is much higher than that of commercial nanosized gamma-Al2O3 with comparable specific surface area and gram size. The temperatures of 90% conversion of CS2 (T-90) on nanosized titania and zirconia are 2 10 and 205 degreesC, respectively, which are 130-135 degreesC lower than that on gamma-Al2O3. CO2-TPD, TG and IR studies show that the enhanced activity is due to reduced surface hydrophilicity and increased free surface basic hydroxyl groups on the catalysts. The presence of potassium as a promoter on titania catalyst increases its hydrolysis activity, but the promoted catalyst deactivates faster on stream due to catalyst sulfation caused by a trace amount of O-2 impurity in the feed. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.