An active component carrier composition is disclosed comprising a mixture of one or more catalytically active components and one or more oxidized disulfide oil (ODSO) compounds, including a water-soluble fraction of ODSO. In certain embodiments the ODSO is obtained from the effluent of an enhanced MEROX process. The active component carrier composition facilitates transfer of catalytically active components (or components that will be catalytically active in the finished solid catalyst material) onto the surface of support materials.