Ru catalysts, supported on TiO 2 , CeO 2 , and CeO 2 -TiO 2 , were prepared by the impregnation method. The effect of the structure of the supports on the activity of Ru catalysts was investigated in the catalytic wet air oxidation (CWAO) of acetic acid under 230°C and 5 MPa in a batch reactor. Physical properties including the surface area, crystalline phase, and surface components of the Ru catalysts were characterized by N 2 adsorption, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The CeO 2 -based Ru catalysts had good activity, and the prepared RuO 2 /CeO 2 catalyst showed markedly higher activity than the RuO 2 /CeO 2 -TiO 2 catalyst. The surface structure, the high amount of chemisorbed oxygen on the catalyst surface, and the suitable pH pzc value of the supports played an important role in the activity of the Ru catalysts in CWAO of acetic acid.