Abstract: A non-aqueous method of preparing an improved silica supported hydrotreating catalyst by reacting a mixture of Mo(Cl).sub.5 and Ni(H.sub.2 O.sub.6)Cl.sub.2 and/or Co(H.sub.2 O).sub.6 Cl.sub.2 in the presence of acetonitrile and impregnating a dried silica support with said mixture. The impregnated support is dried and sulfided before it is used in a hydrotreating process.

Abstract: A method for preparing hydrotreating catalysts containing Group VIII and/or Group VIB catalytically active metals on a support, and particularly those containing nickel and molybdenum, are improved in hydrodenitrification (HDN) activity by incorporating zero-valence molybdenum and/or tungsten carbonyls into the catalyst support by mixing a liquid mixture containing metal carbonyl(s); a catalytic amount of dienes, trienes or monoaromatics; and free sulfur; with a dried catalyst support and heating the liquid-solid mixture until metal carbonyl conversion to metal disulfide is substantially complete. The catalyst is then dried followed by calcining in inert gas, before use in a hydrotreating process.