The SiO2Al2O3 material and mesoporous molecular sieves of AlSBA-15 type described in this work were applied as the supports for the Pt and PtMo catalysts. Catalysts were synthesized by one step impregnation, i.e. Pt catalysts with 1 wt.% of Pt as well as by two step impregnation, i.e. PtMo catalysts with 4-8 wt.% of Mo followed by 1 wt.% of Pt. The activity of the catalysts was investigated in n-C-16 conversion (5 MPa; 320-370 degrees C; WSHV, 3.5 h(-1); H-2: CH, 350: 1 Nm(3)/m(3)) and in n-C-7 conversion (0.1 MPa; 350-370 degrees C; WHSV, 1 h(-1); H-2: CH, 10:1 mol/mol). The results have shown that at comparable reaction temperatures, i.e. 340-360 degrees C the catalysts containing AlSBA-15 are more active than the catalysts supported on SiO2Al2O3. Among the PtMo/AlSBA-15 catalysts, the catalyst containing 8 wt.% of Mo provides the highest selectivity towards i-C-16 and the highest iso/n proportion within C-10-C-15 fraction together with the maintenance of a high conversion. SEM examinations of PtMo catalysts have shown that type of support influences Mo distribution; agglomerates of Mo phases are observed on the AlSBA-15 containing catalysts. It was postulated that the weaker Mo-support interactions and higher acidity in AlSBA-15 supported catalysts resulted in a more active and selective catalyst for hydroconversion of n-hexadecane. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.