This report describes a hydrocatalytic process developed in a reverse microemulsion using microwave irradiation. The catalysts used, CoMo/Al2O3 and NiMo/Al2O3, were synthesized in the laboratory. The effectiveness of the procedure was tested with model compounds such as nickel (II) phthalocyanine tetrasulfonate tetrasodium salt (NiPcTSNa4), nickel tetraphenylporphyrin (NiTPP) and thiophene. The first two model compounds were demetallized to a percentage around 85% and 60% respectively, while desulfurization of the latter was greater than 90%. These values are higher than most of the values reported in the literature for this type of process. We also applied this catalytic hydrotreating to a real sample, Venezuelan heavy oil (Hamaca), achieving high conversion in a relatively short time. In this case, the hydrodesulfurization was above 59%, while the hydrodemetallization of organic compounds containing nickel and vanadium was greater than 35% and 47%, respectively. The results demonstrate the advantage of using this type of hydrotreating in less extreme conditions and in a shorter time than that used in other hydrocatalytic procedures. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.