A novel method for obtaining spherical MoO2 nanoparticles and SiO2-Al2O3 supported MoO2 by hydrothermal reduction of Mo (VI) species was studied. The obtained MoO2 catalysts show very high catalytic activity in the oxidative desulfurization (ODS) process. The effect of hydrothermal temperature and crystallization temperature on ODS activity was investigated. The ODS activity of supported MoO2 catalysts with various MoO2 contents were also investigated. The mecha-nism for formation of MoO2 involving oxalic acid was proposed.