Abstract: The effects of the carrier carbon black on the interior hydrogentransferring reactions of residual oil were studied in a miniature batch reactor. The results indicated that carbon black could promote the hydrogen transfer from tetralin to anthracene. Fe/carbon black and Ni/carbon black catalysts were prepared using equal volume impregnation method and characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope. The results showed that metal sulfides were attached on the surface of carbon black. The average diameter of metal sulfide crystals was about 1μm. The thermal reactions of Karamay residual oil with carbon black, Fe/carbon black, or Ni/carbon black catalyst were carried out in a batch reactor in hydrogen atmosphere to investigate their effects which then were compared with those of traditional water-soluble dispersed catalysts. The reaction temperature was 430℃ and the catalyst content was 1%. It was found that on coke formation restricting, water-washed catalyst was better than unwashed catalyst, Ni/carbon black was better than Fe/carbon black, and Fe/carbon black was better than water-soluble dispersed catalyst. The fraction distribution analysis of products showed that Fe/carbon black could restrict the cracking and condensation of residue.