ImCl-silica gel (SG-ImCl) was prepared by directly immobilized [1-methylimidazole][Cl] (ImCl) onto silica gel (SG) using co-condensation of ionic liquid modified organosilane and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) as silica source in strong acid condition. The properties of the samples were characterized by FTIR, elemental analysis, Si-29 MAS NMR, SEM, BET. The results suggested that [1-methylimidazole][Cl] had been successfully immobilized on silica gel. The structure and morphology of SG-ImCl was varied with the content of ImCl. Moreover, SG-ImCl with suitable content of ImCl exhibited higher adsorption capacity than pure SG for a series of thiophenic sulfur compounds and could remove them from fuel. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.