Oxidative dehydrogenation of n-butene to 1,3-butadiene over ZnFe(2)O(4) catalyst mixed with Cs(x)H(3-x)PW(12)O(40) heteropolyacid (HPA) was performed in a continuous flow fixed-bed reactor. The effect of Cs(x)H(3-x)PW(12)O(40) addition on the catalytic performance of ZnFe(2)O(4) was investigated. Cs(x)H(3-x)PW(12)O(40) itself showed very low catalytic performance in the oxidative dehydrogenation of n-butene. However, addition of small amount of Cs(x)H(3-x)PW(12)O(40) into ZnFe(2)O(4) enhanced the catalytic performance of ZnFe(2)O(4) catalyst. The catalytic performance of ZnFe(2)O(4)-Cs(x)H(3-x)PW(12)O(40) mixed catalysts was closely related to the surface acidity of Cs(x)H(3-x)PW(12)O(40). Among the catalysts tested, ZnFe(2)O(4)-Cs(2.5)H(0.5)PW(12)O(40) mixed catalyst showed the best catalytic performance. Strong acid strength and large surface acidity of Cs(2.5)H(0.5)PW(12)O(40) was responsible for high catalytic performance of ZnFe(2)O(4)-Cs(2.5)H(0.5)PW(12)O(40) mixed catalyst. Thus, Cs(2.5)H(0.5)PW(12)O(40) could be utilized as an efficient promoter and diluent in formulating ZnFe(2)O(4) catalyst for the oxidative dehydrogenation of n-butene.