A Continuous fixed-bed micro-reactor was adopted to conduct a hydrotreatment experiment on the atmospheric residue obtained from Saudi Arabia. The feedstock and hydrotreated liquid products were subjected to high-temperature gas chromatography to undertake simulated distillation analysis, and to gel permeation chromatography to carry out molecular size investigations. H-1 NMR and element analysis were carried out to derive structural parameters. Positive- and negative-ion electrospray ionization Fourier transform-ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry was combined with other analytical means to explore the stepwise structural characterization of polar components (especially the nitrogen (N)-containing compounds) when passing through beds filled with different catalysts during the hydrotreatment process. According to the different numbers of nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur atoms, N-containing compounds could be divided into N-x, NxOy, and NxSy class species. The results indicated that hydrotreatment process led to more concentrated distribution of hydrocarbon molecules in the products. The heteroatoms, which accounted for the largest proportion in the feedstock and liquid products, were N-1 class species. During the hydrotreatment process, the relative abundance of N-1, N-2, N1O1, N1O2, and N1S1 class species changed significantly with the progress of hydrotreatment process, however the conversion regularity varied among heteroatomic compounds. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.