SBA-15 and ZrO2 (10-50 wt.%) containing SBA-15 mesoporous materials were prepared by direct and post-synthesis methods. Characterization using low angle XRD, pore size distribution, CO2 chernisorption indicate that hexagonal mesoporous structure is retained even after ZrO2 addition (25 wt.%). Mo, CoMo and NiMo catalysts prepared using these supports were examined by XRD, oxygen chemisorption, temperature programmed reduction (TPR). The catalysts were tested for hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of thiophene and hydrogenation (HYD) of cyclohexene. HDS of thiophene for 8%Mo, 3%Co8%Mo, and 3%Ni8%Mo increases with increasing ZrO2 loading in SBA-15 up to 25 wt.%. Oxygen chernisorption and TPR hydrogen consumption indicated that the molybdenum dispersion and anion vacancies, and catalytic activities are significantly influenced by ZrO2 content in Zr-SBA-15. A comparison indicated that TiO2-SBA-15, ZrO2-SBA-15 supported CoMo catalysts show higher activities for hydrodesulfurization. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.