Natural　rectorite　modified　by　the　hydrothermal　method　was　employed　to　prepare　a　catalyst　for　the　slurry-phase　hydrocracking　of　vacuum　residue　(VR).　The　influence　of　hydrothermal　treatment　on　the　properties　of　rectorite　and　the　performance　of　the　corresponding　catalyst　was　examined.　Hydrothermal　treatment　of　the　rectorite　led　to　the　formation　of　Fe3O4,　as　evidenced　by　H2-TPR　analysis.　XPS　results　indicate　that　the　hydrothermal　treatment　of　rectorite　can　intensify　the　sulfidation　process　of　Mo　species　supported　on　it,　possibly　due　to　modifications　in　the　surface　properties　of　the　rectorite.　Comparative　slurry-phase　hydrocracking　tests　showed　that　the　catalyst　supported　on　hydrothermally　treated　rectorite　exhibited　significantly　higher　VR　conversion,　higher　liquid　product　yield,　and　higher　yields　of　gasoline　and　diesel　fractions,　but　lower　gas　yield　compared　to　the　catalyst　supported　on　untreated　rectorite.　This　is　ascribed　to　the　high　hydrogenation　activity　of　the　catalyst　supported　on　hydrothermally　treated　rectorite,　which　effectively　suppresses　the　over-cracking　reactions　of　intermediate　products　that　would　otherwise　produce　gas,　illustrating　the　process　intensification　achieved　through　hydrothermal　treatment.　©　2024　Elsevier　B.V.