A series of Sn-containing mesoporous SBA-15 molecular sieves were synthesized and used as supports for RuB catalysts. Effects of Sn doping on the structure of the SBA-15 and on properties and catalytic performance of the RuB/Sn-SBA-15 catalyst in ethyl lactate hydrogenation were studied. The samples were characterized by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES), N-2 physisorption, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), diffuse reflectance UV-vis spectroscopy (DRUVS), diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and catalytic tests. The results showed that Sn-containing SBA-15 supports prepared by direct hydrothermal synthesis method maintained the characteristic structure of SBA-15 with Sn species highly dispersed in the support when Si/Sn nominal ratio was above 30. The RuB catalysts supported on the Sn-containing SBA-15 prepared by the direct hydrothermal synthesis method showed higher dispersion and better catalytic performance than corresponding one prepared by the impregnation method. The best catalytic performance was achieved over catalyst with Si/Sn nominal ratio of 30. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.