The role of citric acid in preparation of NiW/Al2O3 HDS catalysts was investigated. Four catalysts with the same metal loading were prepared by pore filling method, with different supports (alumina or carbon modified alumina) and the impregnation solutions (adding citric acid or not), followed by drying. The UV-Vis spectra of the aqueous solution of nickel nitrate, ammonium metatungstate and citric acid shows no Ni-complex formation. The N-2 physisorption results indicated the addition of citric acid in the impregnation solution has slight effect on the pore structure of the corresponding sulfided catalysts. The TPR profiles of the oxidic catalysts showed metal species supported on carbon modified alumina are easier to be reduced than those on alumina. The results of TPO-MASS indicated there are two types of carbonaceous compounds of different combustive properties in the freshly sulfided samples. HRTEM images showed the addition of citric acid can decrease the average WS2 slab length but increase stacking number. The addition of citric acid can facilitate the formation of Ni-W-S active phases, as determined by XPS. And the HDS tests showed the catalysts prepared by adding citric acid in the impregnation solution. exhibit higher HDS activity for 4, 6-DMDBT. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.