Nickel catalysts supported on activated carbon were prepared by excessive impregnation.The catalysts were studied by BET,XPS and XRD. The result showed that the active carbon pretreated by HNO3 can increase specific surface area and pore volume,improve oxygen-containing functional groups propotion. The Ni/AC catalyst pretreated by acid exhibits high desulfurization activity at low tempreture. The desulfurizaiton activity is apparently influence by pretreatment of the support with acid and metal loading.Ni/AC desulfurization catalyst is to be used at suitible reaction conditions.