Mesoporous ACo(2)O(4) (A= Cu, Ni and Mn) catalysts with high surface area were synthesized by a simple co-nanocasting approach using SBA-15 as a hard template. Their catalytic performances for total oxidation of benzene were tested and physicochemical properties were characterized in detail by means of XRD, N-2 physisorption, TEM/HR-TEM, XPS, H-2 -TPR, O-2-TPD-MS and in situ DRIFTS. The results demonstrate that benzene conversion in MnCo2O4 is more than 90% at 238 degrees C, which is higher than that of NiCo(2)O(4 )and CUCo2O4 . The superior catalytic activity in MnCo2O4 is associated with its highly ordered mesoporous structure, higher surface Mn concentration and more active oxygen species. In situ DRIFTS results indicate that the lattice oxygen species are participated in the generation of carboxylates intermediate species over ACo(2)O(4), while the surface active oxygen species favor the oxidation of carboxylates species to final products. All the results indicate that the oxidation of benzene in ACo(2)O(4) catalysts consist of Mvk and L-H mechanisms. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.