Ni/gamma-Al2O3, Ni/AlSBA-15 and Ni/HZSM-5 catalyst with small amount of active metal of 1 wt% Ni loading were prepared. The performance for hydrodeoxygenation upgrading of a model bio-oil was evaluated under different reaction conditions. It was found that Ni/gamma-Al2O3 displays the highest anisole conversion 60% at WHSV = 81.6 h(-1) and nearly 100% at WHSV = 20.4 h(-1) as compared with Ni/AlSBA-15 and Ni/HZSM-5. Toluene, a premium aromatic product, could form and the maximum toluene selectivity 20% could be obtained at WHSV = 20.4 h(-1) at 3 bars over Ni/HZSM-5. 10% n-hexane selectivity could be obtained over Ni/HZSM-5 at WHSV = 20.4 h(-1) at 3 bars. 70% arene selectivity could be obtained at WHSV = 81.6 h(-1) at 3 bars over Ni/HZSM-5. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.