A series of 50 wt% Mn2O3 sorbents was prepared using various mesoporous silica, MCM-41, HMS, and KIT-1 as support. The influence of textural parameters of mesoporous silica, especially type of channel on the desulfurization performance of Mn2O3 sorbents was investigated at 600-850 degrees C using hot coal gas containing 0.33 vol.% H2S. The fresh and used sorbents were characterized by means of N-2-adsorption, x-ray diffraction (XRD), high resolution transmission microscopy (HRTEM) and H-2 temperature- programmed reduction (H-2-TPR) techniques. The results confirmed that the manganese oxide was dispersed highly in regular pore channel of the mesoporous supports due to high surface area. Compared with the Mn2O3/diatomite, all mesoporous silica supported Mn2O3 sorbents exhibited high breakthrough sulfur capacity and a sharp deactivation rate after the breakthrough point. Compared to Mn2O3/MCM-41 and Mn2O3/HMS sorbent, the Mn2O3/KIT-1 showed better desulfurization performance because of the 3D wormhole-like channel. The high sulfur capacity of the Mn2O3/KIT-1 sorbent was maintained during the eight consecutive desulfurization-regeneration cycles. The Mn2O3/KIT-1 still presented high desulfurization activity when hot coal gas contained low steam (<5%). (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.