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 ceriumcontaining SBA-15. Spinel Co 3 O 4 constituted the predominant cobalt phase in the prepared catalysts, and CeO 2 was also detected. All the Co supported catalysts exhibited high catalytic activity in the oxidation of benzene. #