Mesostructured alumino-silcate (MAS) materials were synthesized from ZSM-5 nano-clusters and used as catalysts supports for the hydrotreatment of a model compound and real feed stock. Supports and catalysts were thoroughly characterized by using XRD, N-2 adsorption analysis, FT-IR, Al-27 MAS NMR, Raman, EXAFS and HRTEM techniques. The alumino-silicate materials exhibited different acid strength and textural properties depending on the duration of hydrothermal treatment of the zeolite seeds. Materials synthesized with low seeding time of 4 h showed properties similar to Al-SBA-15 prepared using the direct synthesis route, whereas material with high seeding time (t(seed) = 24 h) resembled ZSM-5. The EXAFS study of the sulfided catalysts revealed that sulfidation was highest in the NiMo catalyst supported on mesoporous alumino-silicate synthesized from ZSM-5 seeds with 16 h of hydrothermal treatment (MAS-16). Hydrotreating experiments were conducted using model compound (DBT) at 325 degrees C and 600 psi as well as real feed stock (Coker light gas oil) at industrial conditions. Catalytic activity in the hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of dibenzothiophene (DBT) was found to be maximum for this particular catalyst (MAS-16). The same catalyst also gave higher hydrodesulfurization (HDS) and hydrodenitrogenation (HDN) conversion than Nimo/gamma Al2O3 in the hydrotreating of Light Gas Oil. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.