The design and partial construction of a new trickle-flow, packed bed reactor system was achieved. This reactor will be used to conduct investigations of throwaway type catalysts and zoned or mixed catalyst beds. It will also be used to support studies of catalyst activity decay. Most of these decay studies will be conducted in the Catalyst Life Test Unit (CLTU). The CLTU has been improved by redesign of the H/sub 2/ flow system and several minor changes. A new H/sub 2/ supply system has been designed and items ordered for installation. One experimental run was conducted in one of the three reactors of the CLTU. Raw anthracene oil was the feedstock and a vendor catalyst was used (Nalco, NM-502, Ni-Mo-Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/). Run conditions were: 700F(371C), 1500 psig and 2.0 hour space time (volume hourly). The objective of this run was to test equipment, familiarize personnel and to obtain a data base for future experiments. The sulfur removal was better than 95% throughout the 162 hours of operation. However, nitrogen removal activity decayed from 70% to about 35% after only 30 to 50 hours.