A series of B-Ni2P/SBA-15/cord monolithic catalysts were prepared by coating the slurry of the B-Ni2P/SBA-15 precursors on a pretreated cordierite support, and followed by temperature-programmed reduction in a H-2 flow. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and N-2 adsorption-desorption technique. The catalytic activities for the hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of dibenzothiophene (DBT) were evaluated. The results showed that Ni2P phase was present in all B-Ni2P/SBA-15/cord monolithic catalysts. The specific surface areas (S-BET) of the B-Ni2P/SBA-15/cord monolithic catalysts was first increased to 167 m(2).g(-1), and then decreased to 155 m(2).g(-1) with the increase of boron contents. The catalytic activity also showed the similar trend with the increase of boron contents. The 1.75% (by mass) B-Ni2P/SBA-15/cord monolithic catalysts exhibited the highest DBT conversion of 98.4% at 380 degrees C. The cordierite-based monolithic catalysts showed better low temperature sensitivity for HDS of DBT in comparison with the particle catalysts. Moreover, two HDS routes, direct desulfurization (DDS) and hydrogenation (HYD), proceeded independently over B-Ni2P/SBA-15/cord monolithic catalysts and the main pathway was DDS. (C) 2014 The Chemical Industry and Engineering Society of China, and Chemical Industry Press. All rights reserved.