High catalytic activity and selectivity for vapor phase hydration of ethene (ethylene) into ethanol under practical conditions were observed on a tungsta monolayer loaded on titania. Bronsted acidity generated on the monolayer is Suggested to be the origin of such activity. The activity and the selectivity to desired product of tungsta monolayer loaded on titania were comparable to those of a silica-impregnated phosphoric acid catalyst, which has been utilized for a conventional process but has disadvantages from a view of environmental protection. The selectivity was higher than that of a WO3-TiO2 mixed oxide, possibly due to the co-presence of Bronsted and Lewis acid sites. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.