A thorough FTIR investigation of the thermal stability of arenesulfonic modified SBA-15 solids revealed that most of the organic functional groups are preserved until 400 degrees C. These results have been confirmed by the thermogravimetric analyses of the corresponding materials calcined at 200 degrees C (EC-200) or 400 degrees C (EC-400), respectively. Such studies showed that the smoother calcination procedure (200 degrees C is appropriate in order to complete the removal of Pluronic P123 in the extracted sample (E). Moreover, it can be noticed that such calcination treatment did not alter tremendously the catalytic performances of the resulting solids. Both E and EC-200 materials exhibited high activities in the liquid phase condensation of 2-methylfuran with acetone and in the decomposition of cumene hydroperoxide into phenol. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.