A specific preparation method for depositing W oxo-species and modification with potassium have been applied to study physicochemical features and activity behaviour of a NiW/Al2O3 system as a sulphurtolerant water-gas shift catalyst. Equilibrium deposition filtration and conventional wet impregnation were used for W loading on alumina surface. Nickel and potassium deposition was carried out following incipient wetness impregnation. Catalytic measurements were performed in a fixed bed reactor at atmospheric pressure in the range of 250-400 degrees C. Samples were characterised by means of N-2 physisorption, X-ray diffraction, Raman, diffuse reflectance UV-vis-NIR, and XP spectroscopies. A combination between the equilibrium deposition-filtration method for tungsten deposition and potassium modification of NiW catalysts gives rise to increased tungsten dispersion of calcined and tested samples. This has led to enhanced reducibility/sulphidability, improved stability of the metal-sulphur bond at the surface, and a higher activity of the KNiW catalysts for the water-gas shift reaction in sulphur-containing gas mixtures. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.