Abstract: A batch of Mo-Ni catalysts with different contents of promoters was prepared via two different adding methods, i.e. ①Si was introduced during the formation of dry alumina powder and P2O5 in the preparation of catalyst support; ②Si and P2O5 were added together during the carrier preparation procedure. The catalysts were characterized by BET, H2-TPR, Raman, and XPS. The effect of the adding methods of promoters on the microstructure properties of the catalysts, active metal coordination structure and reducibility of the catalysts, interaction between metal and carrier were investigated. The catalytic performance was evaluated using liquid wax feed containing thiophene, piperidine and naphthalene. It is shown that under the same conditions，the HDS activity of Mo-Ni-P catalysts prepared by the second method is higher than the first one, while the HDN activity is just on the contrary. When the ratio of SiO2/P2O5 is 2.5, the hydrogenation activity of the catalysts, the proportion of octahedral coordinated molybdenum species in the catalysts and the hydrogen consumption during H2-TPR reach to the maximum, meanwhile the interaction between active metal molybdenum and aluminum oxide is the weakest.