Two W/gamma-Al2O3 catalysts were prepared by a surfactant-assisted hydrothermal deposition method developed in the present investigation and the conventional impregnation method, respectively, and characterized by means of XRD, XPS, TEM, N-2 adsorptipn, NH3-TPD and H-2-TPR. The results showed that compared with the catalyst prepared by impregnation, the catalyst prepared by the surfactant (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, CTABr)-assisted hydrothermal deposition had higher dispersion of tungsten. species with weak metal-support interaction, more open pore channels, and more acid sites, and thus presented a significantly enhanced hydrodenitrogenation activity. The novel method introduced here sheds a light on preparing supported metal catalysts with high activity. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.