NiP/ZrO-SBA-15 catalysts with different zirconium n-propoxide/SBA-15 mass ratios were synthesized to evaluate their dibenzothiophene hydrodesulfurization catalytic activity. Effect of ZrOintroduction was investigated. Supports and catalysts were characterized by BET,XRD,SiNMR,XPS and FTIR. The results indicated that zirconium was incorporated into SBA-15 in the forms of [(–O–)Si(–O–Zr)] and/or [(–O–)Si–O–Zr],and that the SBA-15 framework structure was maintained after incorporation of ZrO. With zirconium content increasing,ZrOwas transformed from amorphous phase to tetragonal phase. Zirconium incorporation into SBA-15 supports could facilitate to form more dispersed NiP active phase. There might be some interaction occurring between the P and Zr species. In addition to NiP,another kind of active phase,ZrP,was formed,which might exhibit a better HDS activity than NiP. It was observed that at a temperature of 280 °C,pressure of 3.0 MPa,WHSV of 6.5 hand Hto oil ratio of 450,the NiP/Zr-SBA(1.5) catalyst,where 1.5 represents zirconium n-propoxide/SBA-15 mass ratio,showed the highest DBT conversion,which was 86.6%,almost 35% higher than that of the NiP/Zr-SBA(0) catalyst.