Pt on alumina catalysts were studied when the texture of the alumina change by addition of a cationic surfactant cetyl-trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB). The mesoporous alumina was prepared using CTAB from 0.01 to 0.1 M. The surface area and pore volume increased as CTAB concentration increased passing through a maximum. After calcination at 300 degrees C, and 550 degrees C boehmite and gamma-Al2O3 were found by XRD. After calcination at 800 degrees C, the transition between gamma- and theta-Al2O3 was observed together with an increase of pore volume and pore diameter respect to the alumina without surfactant. The alumina prepared with the lowest concentration of CTAB showed the highest thermal stability. Bronsted and Lewis acidities were found on alumina samples having CTAB concentrations from 0 to 0.075 M. The sample of alumina with the highest CTAB concentration showed the highest population of pentahedral aluminum (Al-V), Lewis acidity and a dense network of wormlike particles by SEM. After H-2 reduction of these catalysts, sulfur that came from the alumina support weakened the function of Pt particles to hydrogenolysis reaction whereas the CTAB introduced Bronsted acid sites in the alumina increasing the isomerization reaction. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.