Abstract: Activated ceria (CeO₂/γ-Al₂O₃) prepared by impregnation was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and hydrogen temperature-programmed reduction (TPR). The desulfurization of the activated ceria was investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TG). The results showed that ceria could be highly dispersed or crystallized on the surface of γ-alumina. The reduction temperatures of 0.1CeO₂/γ-Al₂O₃, 0.45CeO₂/γ-Al₂O₃, and CeO₂ ranged from 250℃ to 470℃, 330℃ to 550℃, and 350℃ to 550℃, respectively. The reduction peak temperature of 0.45CeO₂/γ-Al₂O₃ was higher than that of 0.1CeO₂/γ-Al₂O₃, which was consistent with the reduction temperature of CeO₂. O₂ participated in the reaction between ceria and sulfur dioxide. The desulfurization product was cerium(Ⅲ) sulfate. The intensity of the hydroxyl band decreased with the formation of sulfate species.