The effect of the binder (boehmite, 20 wt.%) incorporation method and the chemical composition of the support (AlSBA-15, ZrSBA-15) on the physicochemical properties of Pt (2 wt.%) catalysts and on their activity in 1-methylnaphthalene hydroconversion was examined. The supports and catalysts were analyzed by N(2)-sorption, XRD, (29)Si MAS NMR, (27)Al MAS NMR, XRF, H(2)-chemisorption, Py-IR, NH(3)-TPD, and TEM. When the binder was added to SBA-15 before impregnation with the Pt precursor, and when AlSBA-15 was used as a support, better Pt dispersion was obtained on the catalyst surface, which resulted in the improvement of the catalyst's hydrogenation properties. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.