Cerium-containing SBA-15 mesoporous materials, with different Ce/Si molar ratios, were synthesized by a direct hydrothermal synthesis method and further modified by impregnation with 10, 15 and 20 wt.% Co. Characterizations by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), N-2 sorption, inductively coupled plasma (ICP) and UV-vis spectroscopy were carried out. The small-angle XRD and N-2 sorption characterizations showed that these Co supported materials have less-ordered mesoporous structures with partial blockage of pores, and their specific surface area, pore volume and pore size were relatively lower than those of unsupported cerium-containing SBA-15. Spinel Co3O4 constituted the predominant cobalt phase in the prepared catalysts, and CeO2 was also detected. All the Co supported catalysts exhibited high catalytic activity in the oxidation of benzene. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.