The effect of support on thiophene hydrodesulfurization activity over rhodium sulfide was studied. The loading was 5 wt% and the supports were (surface areas S BET in m 2 g -1 in parenthesis): C (1100), Nb 2 O 5 (99), ZrO 2 (108), TiO 2 (140), SiO 2 (289), MgO (300) and 11 Al 2 O 3 (77-279). The activity at 400°C decreased in the order (relative activity in parenthesis): C (4.44), Al 2 O 3 (0.98-0.32), Nb 2 O 5 (0.54), ZrO 2 (0.50), TiO 2 (0.48), SiO 2 (0.26), MgO (0.19), commercial CoMo/Al 2 O 3 (1.00). The activity did not correlate with S BET , point of zero charge PZC of the support and the ratio S/Rh in the presulfided catalysts. The broad range of activities of Rh/Al 2 O 3 illustrate that secondary factors such as S BET , texture, PZC, impurities and additives might be as important as the principal type of the support.