A layered crystalline titanate labelled as type 2 titanate [Anthony et al., US Patent 5 177 045 (1993)] is pillared with tetraethyl orthosilicate to prepare a porous and high surface area support for a sulfided MoNi catalyst. Silica intercalated type 2 titanate is prepared by stepwise intercalation. First, the interlayer distance is increased by n-alkylammonium ions prior to intercalation with tetraethyl orthosilicate. The surface area and pore structure of silica intercalated type 2 titanate can be tailored by controlling the concentration of tetraethyl orthosilicate. The catalytic activities for hydrogenation of pyrene of sulfided MoNi supported silica intercalated type 2 titanates are higher than those of commercial catalysts (Shell 324 and AMOCAT 1C), and approximately equal to sulfided MoNi prepared by using a hydrous titanium-silicon oxide catalyst. The silica content of silica intercalated type 2 titanate, used as a support, has a considerable effect on its catalytic activity. In general, as the silica content decreases, the activity increases.