Atom efficient synthesis of various value added products has been focused as an intense research area after Kyoto protocol. Styrene epoxidation is a challenging reaction as styrene epoxide is an important monomer for large number of polymers. It has been found that surface acidity and redox property of the catalyst has a major contribution to the catalytic activity for oxidation reaction. In this study Co-HMS-X catalyst was prepared and characterized by BET surface area and porosity measurement, SAXS, SANS, FESEM, HRTEM, UV-vis spectra, FFIR, Si-29 NMR, H-2-TPR and NH3-TPD techniques. It is observed that 5 mol% Co-HMS-X showed highest catalytic activity for styrene epoxidation reaction using molecular O-2 as an oxidant. Interestingly it is found that among three different dopant (Al, Ga, Tl), the Ga promoted Co-HMS-X catalyst (Si:Co:Ga = 100:5:1.25) showed highest catalytic activity in terms of styrene conversion (100%) and styrene epoxide selectivity (68%). The unusual trend of Al, Ga and Tl towards the activity of Co-HMS-X (5 mol%) catalyst has been discussed from the results obtained in the H-2-TPR and NH3-TPD study. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.