Removal of sulfur from diesel fuel by adsorption on a commercial activated carbon and 13X type zeolite was studied in a batch adsorber. Kinetic characterization of the adsorption process was performed applying Lagergren's pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order and intraparticle diffusion models using data collected during experiments carried out to determine the sulfur adsorption dependency on time. The experiments investigating adsorption efficiency regarding initial sulfur concentration were also performed and the results were fitted to Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms, respectively. Activated carbon Norit SXRO PLUS was found to have much better adsorption characteristics. The process of sulfur adsorption on the fore mentioned activated carbon was further studied by statistically analyzing data collected during experiments which were carried out according to three-factor two-level factorial design. Statistical analysis involved the calculation of effects of individual parameters and their interactions on sulfur adsorption and the development of statistical models of the process. (C) 2009 The Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.