Catalyzes the dye-linked oxidation of primary alcohols to the corresponding aldehydes and the (subsequent) oxidation of the aldehydes to carboxylic acids. Methanol is not a substrate. a primary alcohol + 2 oxidized [azurin] = an aldehyde + 2 H(+) + 2 reduced [azurin] Binds 1 PQQ group per subunit (PubMed:3521592, PubMed:11714714). PQQ is inserted between disulfide Cys-147-Cys-148 and the plane of Trp-276 (PubMed:11714714). Binds 1 Ca(2+) ion per subunit. Binds 1 heme c group per subunit. Optimum pH is 7.7. Monomer. By ethanol and butanol. In the crystallographic structures Trp-543 is oxidized to 2'-hydroxytryptophan. Belongs to the bacterial PQQ dehydrogenase family. The oxidation form of Trp-543 is subject of controversy and could be the artifactual result of sample handling.