The feasibility of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as support to NiMo catalysts for hydrotreating of gas oil derived from Athabasca bitumen was tested in a trickle bed reactor at industrial conditions. High quality MWCNTs were prepared by CVD method using ferrocene as catalyst and toluene as carbon source. The produced MWCNTs were characterized by XRD, TEM, TGA and Raman spectroscopy in order to reveal the morphological and structural characteristics. Using functionalized MWCNTs as support, NiMo catalysts were prepared with varying Ni and Mo content by pore filling impregnation method. The calcined NiMo/MWCNTs catalysts were characterized by ICP-MS, N-2 adsorption, XRD and TPR and the sulfide form of the catalysts was examined by DRIFT spectroscopy of adsorbed CO. The XRD patterns confirm the enhanced dispersion Of MoO3 particles when increasing the Ni content from 0 to 4.5 wt.% over 12 wt.% Mo/MWCNTs. The TPR profiles indicate the two step reduction characteristics of Mo6+ to Mo in lower oxidation state such as Mo4+ and Moo. The promoted and unpromoted MoS2 sites were clearly differentiated with the help of DRIFT of adsorbed CO over sulfided catalysts. The number of Ni promoted MoS2 (NiMoS phase) sites is increased significantly with increasing Ni addition up to 3 wt.% over 12 wt.% Mo/MWCNTs. The HDN and HDS activities of sulfided NiMo/MWCNTs using bitumen derived light gas oil were carried out at different temperatures under industrial condition. The HDN and HDS activities of the catalysts increased with increasing Ni content up to 3 wt.% and Mo content up to 12 wt.%. Based on weight of the catalyst, the HDN and HDS activities of 3 wt% Ni-12 wt.% Mo/MWCNTs are significantly higher than those over conventional Al2O3-based catalyst under the experimental conditions studied. The introduction of 2.5 wt.% P to MWCNTs-based catalyst found to show a fall in hydrotreating activity. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.