MOx/TiO2 composites with various metal species (M = Mn, Ce, Co, Fe) were synthesized and employed as in the catalytic oxidation of benzene. Among those materials, MnOx/TiO2 showed the highest catalytic efficiency. The catalytic activities of MnOx/TiO2 with different MnOx contents were also studied. XRD, BET, SEM, TEM, and XPS characterizations were conducted to analyze the physiochemical properties of the MnOx/TiO2 catalysts. Moreover, the reaction mechanism of benzene oxidation over MnOx/TiO2 was studied through the in situ FTIR experiments. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.