Heterogeneous catalysts prepared under different conditions usually demonstrate different catalytic performance, but the underlying influences are not well addressed. Therefore, MnOx/SBA-15 (MS) composites were fabricated under different synthetic conditions to probe the links between their changes in physicochemical features and catalytic Oxone efficacies, using butyl paraben (BPB) as a probe chemical. Characterization results demonstrated that the changes of Mn/SBA-15 weight ratio, calcination temperature and time altered the physic-chemical characteristics of MS composites such as the specific surface area and the types/amounts of MnOx species of MS composites. Further studies showed that these synthetic conditions had affected the catalytic Oxone performance of MS composites towards BPB removal through changing the types or the amounts of active radicals. The catalytic Oxone efficacy of the optimized MS was highly dependent on the changes of the dosages of MS and Oxone and the initial pH values of BPB solutions. SO4- and OH center dot were identified as the main reactive species of MS-Oxone system responsible for BPB removal. Additionally, the thermally activated MS demonstrated excellent catalytic Oxone efficacy during its recycles. These findings will increase the knowledge regarding the "synthetic conditions physicochemical characteristics - application" centered -relationships of heterogeneous catalysts for water treatment. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.