Mesoporous　ACo2O4　(A　=　Cu,　Ni　and　Mn)　catalysts　with　high　surface　area　were　synthesized　by　a　simple　co-nanocasting　approach　using　SBA-15　as　a　hard　template.　Their　catalytic　performances　for　total　oxidation　of　benzene　were　tested　and　physicochemical　properties　were　characterized　in　detail　by　means　of　XRD,　N2　physisorption,　TEM/HR-TEM,　XPS,　H2-TPR,　O2-TPD-MS　and　in　situ　DRIFTS.　The　results　demonstrate　that　benzene　conversion　in　MnCo2O4　is　more　than　90%　at　238　°C,　which　is　higher　than　that　of　NiCo2O4　and　CuCo2O4.　The　superior　catalytic　activity　in　MnCo2O4　is　associated　with　its　highly　ordered　mesoporous　structure,　higher　surface　Mn　concentration　and　more　active　oxygen　species.　In　situ　DRIFTS　results　indicate　that　the　lattice　oxygen　species　are　participated　in　the　generation　of　carboxylates　intermediate　species　over　ACo2O4,　while　the　surface　active　oxygen　species　favor　the　oxidation　of　carboxylates　species　to　final　products.　All　the　results　indicate　that　the　oxidation　of　benzene　in　ACo2O4　catalysts　consist　of　MvK　and　L-H　mechanisms.　©　2017　Elsevier　B.V.