The sulfidation behavior of alumina-supported W catalysts was investigated by means of temperature-programmed sulfidation, quick extended X-ray adsorption fine structure measurements, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of two series of tungsten catalysts, one made from ammonium metatungstate and the other from ammonium tetrathiotungstate. The effect of the fluorination of the alumina support on the sulfidation behavior of W on these two series of catalysts was also studied. The sulfidation of catalysts prepared with ammonium metatungstate passes through intermediates of W oxysulfides; the sulfided catalysts are mixtures of W oxysulfides and WS2. After sulfidation at 400 degreesC and atmospheric pressure for 4 h, the degree of sulfidation is only about 50%. Fluorination slightly increases the degree of sulfidation. When ammonium tetrathiotungstate is used as the precursor, fully sulfided catalysts can be obtained. Fluorination accelerates the transformation of WS3 sulfide to WS2. (C) 2001 Academic Press.