The catalysts prepared from reducing Ni(NO_3)_2/γ-Al_2O_3 and NiAc_2/γ-Al_2O_3 have higher metal dispersion than those from reducing the nickel oxide precursors. Reducing Ni(NO_3)_2-NiAc_2/γ- Al_2O_3 leads to lower metal dispersion than reducing Ni(NO_3)_2/γ- Al_2O_3 or NiAc_2/γ-Al_2O_3 does. But reducing the mixture of oxides prepared from Ni(NO_3)_2-NiAc_2/γ-Al_2O_3 leads to higher nickel dispersion than reducing the pure oxides. The TPR of the mixture of oxides presents small sharp peaks in bulk NiO reduction, but TPR of the mixture of salts consumes small amount of H_2 in the salt decomposition. Toluene hydrogenation rates of salt precursor catalysts are higher than that of oxide precursor catalysts. When two salts are mixed, a maximum of hydrogenation activity can be obtained for the salt precursor catalysts, meanwhile the highest sulfur resistance is obtained for both the salt and oxide precursor catalysts.

Key words: METHYLBENZENE, HYDROGENATION, nickel nitrate, nickel acetate, CATALYTIC ACTIVITY