The　use　of　heteropolyanions　(HPAs)　as　starting　materials　can　be　an　interesting　strategy　for　preparing　highly　active　bimetallic　catalysts.　In　this　paper,　an　Anderson-type　Co2Mo10-HPA　was　synthesized　by　precipitation　method,　and　was　further　used　as　starting　precursor　to　prepare　a　Co2Mo10/Al2O3　sulfur-tolerant　water-gas　shift　(WGS)　catalyst.　It　is　shown　that　the　close　proximity　of　cobalt　and　molybdenum　atoms　in　Co2Mo10-HPA　precursor　leads　to　a　strong　interaction　between　Co　and　Mo　species　and　an　easy　second-step　reduction　of　Mo　oxides　on　the　obtained　catalyst,　and　thus　remarkably　improves　the　catalytic　activity　in　sulfur-containing　WGS　reaction.　©　2016　Elsevier　B.V.