Support effects form important aspect of hydrodesulfurization (HDS) studies and mixed oxide supports received maximum attention in the last two decades. This review will focus attention on studies on mixed oxide supported Mo and W catalysts. For convenience of discussion, these are divided into Al2O3 containing mixed oxide supports, TiO2 containing mixed oxide supports, ZrO2 containing mixed oxide supports and other mixed oxide supports containing all the rest. TiO2 containing mixed oxides received maximum attention, especially TiO2-Al2O3 supported catalysts. A brief discussion about their prospects for application to ultradeep desulfurization is also included. An overview of the available literature with emphasis on research carried out in our laboratory form the contents of this publication. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.