Mesoporous　carbons　are　widely　utilized　as　adsorbents　for　adsorptive　removal　of　nitrogen-containing　compounds　in　fuel.　Herein,　hollow　mesoporous　carbon　nanospheres　(HMCNs)　were　successfully　synthesized　via　a　facile　silica-assisted　sol–gel　strategy　and　further　oxidized　by　different　acids　(HNO3,　H2SO4,　and　(NH4)2S2O8)　to　adjust　their　surface　chemistry.　The　HMCNs　oxidized　with　(NH4)2S2O8　contain　the　most　oxygen-containing　groups　and　exhibit　the　strongest　acidity,　resulting　in　high　adsorption　capacities　towards　quinoline　(QUI,　29.78　mgN·g−1)　and　indole　(IND,　26.59　mgN·g−1)　in　model　fuel.　The　superior　performance　is　attributed　to　the　acid-base　interaction　and　hydrogen　bonding　interaction　between　the　adsorbent　and　QUI/IND　molecules.　Remarkably,　the　adsorption　capacity　towards　nitrogen-containing　compounds　in　real　diesel　is　as　high　as　19.19　mgN·g−1　at　50　°C.　Our　work　has　paved　the　way　to　the　rational　design　and　synthesis　of　high-performance　adsorbents　for　the　removal　of　nitrogen-containing　compounds　in　real　diesel　on　a　large　scale.　©　2020　Elsevier　Ltd