Two series of alumina-supported molybdenum phosphide (MoP) catalysts with low and high metal loadings were prepared by temperature-programmed reduction of the oxidic catalyst precursors in hydrogen to different temperatures (823, 923, 1023 and 1123K, respectively). Effects of reduction temperature and metal loading on the surface distribution and the type of species formed were studied by TPR, SBET, XRD, HRTEM, 31P NMR, 27Al NMR and in the reaction of dibenzothiophene (DBT) hydrodesulfurization (HDS) performed in a flow reactor at 553K and total hydrogen pressure of 3.4MPa. HRTEM and 31P NMR confirmed formation of MoP phase on all catalysts. The 9.9wt% Mo catalyst activated at lowest reduction temperature (823K) was found to be most active among the catalysts studied. The presence of a low amount of Mo0 species on the surface of this catalyst does not appear to be a drawback for the catalytic activity. The increase in both metal loading (from 9.9 to 15wt% Mo and from 3.2 to 4.8wt% P) and reduction temperature (from 823 to 1123K) was found to be detrimental for HDS activity due to sintering of active phase, and also to decrease in specific area and formation of phosphate species.