Synthetic kenyaite is prepared in the system K2O-SiO2-H2O. It is modified with cobalt and platinum in order to obtain catalysts for complete oxidation of n-hexane and benzene. The prepared samples are characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetry (TG), differential thermal analysis (DTA), temperature programmed reduction (TPR) and Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Co is loaded on kenyaite using ammonia method and classical impregnation. Bimetallic Co-Pt possess higher catalytic activity than monometallic cobalt for the oxidation of benzene, while, for hexane oxidation, the monometallic cobalt catalysts exhibit higher or close activity to that of Co-Pt samples. The catalysts prepared by ammonia method have better performance due to finer dispersion of the metal particles on the surface of the support. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.