A series of water soluble lanthano-phosphotungstate K₁₁[Ln(PW₁₁O₃₉)₂]·xH₂O [Ln = Pr(III), Nd(III), Eu(III), Gd(III), Tb(III), Dy(III), Ho(III), Er(III), Tm(III) and Yb(III)] catalysts were synthesized. These catalysts (0.24 mol%) were screened for oxidation of primary and secondary alcohols using H₂O₂ as an oxidant in water. The Pr-POM catalyst retained its activity after being recycled and reused upto five cycles.