Supported nickel catalysts for aqueous-phase catalytic hydrogenation/dehydration of furfural were prepared using impregnation method with different supporting materials. Effects of supporting materials, nickel loading and reaction temperature on conversion rate of furfural as well as selectivity for desired product C(5) were systematically studied. Experiments showed that catalytic activity of Ni/SiO(2)-Al(2)O(3) was obviously higher than that of Ni/gamma-Al(2)O(3). The conversion of furfural over 14 wt.%Ni/SiO(2)-Al(2)O(3) catalyst was 62.99% under the temperature of 140 degrees C and the cold pressure of H(2) 3.0 MPa, while that was 19.19% over 14 wt.%Ni/gamma-Al(2)O(3) under the same conditions. Conversion rate of furfural increased with temperature, but selectivity for desired product decreased with temperature. Tentative reaction mechanisms of hydrogenation/dehydration were proposed. In order to investigate catalyst recyclability, a batch of Ni/SiO(2)-Al(2)O(3) was reused three times and analyzed by Thermogravimetry (TG). It was found that considerable amount of coke formed on Ni/SiO(2)-Al(2)O(3) surface and deteriorated its activity dramatically after second use. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.