Effect of the incorporation of ETS-10 into alumina on metal-support interactions was firstly studied systematically by the techniques of DSC, TG, XRD, DRS and LRS. The results show that the introduction of ETS-10 substantially improves metal-support interactions, inhibits the formation of inactive aluminium tungstate species and nickel spinet, and stimulates more polymeric tungsten species formation, which facilitates the promoting effect of nickel on tungsten and contributes to a noticeable increase in HDS activity. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.