Pure and mixed oxides (Al2O3, ZrO2, Al2O3-MgO, Al2O3-SiO2, Al2O3-TiO2, and Al2O3-ZrO2) were prepared by homogeneous delayed precipitation. The synthesized supports were impregnated by incipient wetness method to obtain CoMo catalysts. Both supports and catalysts were characterized by N-2 physisorption, X-ray diffraction, among other techniques. Acid-base properties were studied with isopropyl alcohol and cumene decomposition. It was possible to assess qualitatively that nature of Al-Si and its respective catalyst was mainly acidic. Conversion of isopropyl alcohol leads to the dehydration products, mostly propylene with a low amount of di-isopropyl ether and acetone. The CoMo/Al2O3-SiO2 catalyst showed the highest conversion during cumene cracking. CoMo/Al2O3-SiO2 catalyst also was the most active during thiophene hydrodesulfurization followed by CoMo/Al2O3-TiO2 catalyst. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.