The　adsorption　of　4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene　(4,6-DMDBT)　from　diesel　fuel　using　a　fixed　bed　column　was　investigated.　A　modified　homogeneous　surface　diffusion　model　(HSDM)　incorporating　a　new　correlation　to　describe　the　＇practical＇　equilibrium　adsorption　between　the　moving　phase　and　solid　phase　was　proposed　to　describe　the　adsorption　kinetics　of　4,6-DMDBT　adsorption　at　different　operation　conditions　of　flow　rate,　bed　length,　adsorbent　particle　size　and　influent　concentration.　A　sensitivity　analysis　indicates　that　the　breakthrough　curve　is　obviously　sensitive　to　the　change　of　the　Freundlich　constant　K　values,　while　film　transfer　coefficient　kf　and　surface　diffusion　coefficient　Ds　have　little　effect　on　the　breakthrough　curve.　The　value　of　the　surface　diffusion　coefficient　is　1.76　×　10−12　m2　s−1.　The　axial　dispersion　coefficient　and　external　mass　transfer　coefficient　are　evaluated　using　empirical　correlation.　The　model　equations　are　solved　by　the　method　of　lines　(MOL).　The　results　prove　that　the　modified　HSDM　model　can　predict　the　fixed　bed　breakthrough　curves　well.　©　The　Royal　Society　of　Chemistry.