Ultrasound-assisted oxidative desulfurization (UAOD) process was applied to diesel oil and petroleum product feedstock containing model sulfur compounds (benzothiophene, dibenzothiophene and dimethyldibenzothiophene). The influence of oxidant amount, volume of solvent for the extraction step and time and temperature of ultrasound treatment (20 kHz, 750 W, operating at 40%) was investigated. Using the optimized conditions for UAOD, sulfur removal up to 99% was achieved for model compounds in petroleum product feedstock using a molar proportion for H(2)O(2):acetic acid:sulfur of 64:300:1, after 9 min of ultrasound treatment at 90 degrees C, followed by extraction with methanol (optimized solvent and oil ratio of 0.36). Using the same reagent amount and 9 min of ultrasound the removal of sulfur was higher than 75% for diesel oil samples. Sulfur removal without ultrasound using the same conditions was lower than 82% for model compounds and 55% for diesel oil samples showing that ultrasound improved the efficiency of oxidative desulfurization. In comparison to conventional hydrodesulfurization, the proposed UAOD process can be performed under relatively mild conditions (atmospheric pressure and 90 degrees C, without using metallic catalysts). (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.