The influence of the addition of boron, calcium, magnesium, zirconium and zinc compounds on the physicochemical properties of alumina supports has been studied. Dopants were introduced during aluminium hydroxide precipitation. It was concluded that the effect of dopant incorporation depends on the type of additive and its concentration in the precipitated slurry. Aluminas doped with boron and magnesium showed the best physicochemical properties as hydrorefining catalyst supports. The obtained results are discussed on the basis of the open literature results.