Hydrodynamics, mass transfer and reaction kinetics of isobutene hydration over Amberlyst-15 have been studied in a countercurrent flow fixed bed reactor (CFFBR). The reaction exhibited a pseudo-first-order kinetics with respect to the isobutene partial pressure with an activation energy of 66 kJ mol(-1). A modified cell model was used to describe the experimental results. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.