ZrSBA-15 support with Si/Zr = 20 containing majority of Zr in framework positions is synthesized by direct addition of Zr to the synthetic mixture. Various catalysts containing 2-12 molybdenum loading were prepared by incipient wetness impregnation. Using 8 wt% Mo catalysts Co and Ni promoted catalysts were prepared with 1-5 wt% promoter loading. All the Mo, CoMo, NiMo catalysts were characterized by N-2 adsorption-desorption, low angle and wide angle XRD, temperature programmed reduction (TPR) and oxygen chemisorption on sulfide catalysts. The catalytic activities for thiophene HDS, cyclohexene HYD were evaluated on sulfide catalysts at 400 degrees C. The oxygen uptakes and catalytic activities for HDS and HYD passed through a maximum at 8 wt% loading. The H-2/Mo ratios obtained as a function of Mo loading also passed through a maximum at the same temperature. The promoted catalyst showed maximum activity at 3 wt% loading for both the functionalities. These results will be discussed in the light of characterization results in terms of reducibility, dispersion and anion vacancy variation with Mo and promoter loading. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.