PtCo bimetallic and Co, Pt monometallic catalysts supported on gamma-Al2O3, SiO2. TiO2 and activated carbon (AC) were prepared and evaluated for the hydrogenation of benzene at relatively low temperatures (343 K) and atmospheric pressure. Results from flow reactor studies showed that supports strongly affected the catalytic properties of different bimetallic catalysts. AC supported PtCo bimetallic catalysts exhibited significantly better performance than the other bimetallic catalysts, and all the bimetallic catalysts possessed higher activity than the corresponding monometallic catalysts. Results from CO chemisorption and H-2-temperature-programmed reduction (H-2-TPR) studies suggested that different catalysts possessed different properties in chemisorption capacity and reduction behavior, and AC supported PtCo catalysts possessed significantly higher CO chemisorption capacity compared to the other catalysts. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis provided additional information regarding the formation of Pt-Co bimetallic bonds and metallic particle size distribution in the PtCo bimetallic catalysts on different supports. (C) 2009 Published by Elsevier B.V.