The　removal　of　aromatic　sulfur-containing　species　by　adsorption　method　in　liquid　hydrocarbon　fuels　(LHFs)　are　concerned　in　worldwide,　but　it　is　still　a　challenge　due　to　intricacy-designed　adsorbents,　resulting　in　high　cost　of　preparation　and　poor　stability.　Herein,　an　easy-prepared　adsorbent,　Zn-NC-T　(T　represents　the　carbonization　temperature,　T　=　600,　800　and　1000　°C),　which　derived　from　the　carbonization　of　low-cost　ZnCl2-chitosan　polymers,　is　reported.　The　optimal　Zn-NC-800　exhibits　dibenzothiophene　(DBT)　uptakes　of　43.3　mg　S/g,　which　is　superior　to　many　reported　desulfurization　adsorbents,　including　metal–organic　frameworks,　zeolites　and　metal-loaded　porous　carbons.　It　also　keeps　satisfactory　reusability　with　adsorption　capacity　loss　of　5.3　mg　S/g　after　5　cycles　because　of　the　high-efficiency　removal　of　adsorbates　under　high　temperature　regeneration.　Moreover,　the　Zn-NC-800　shows　great　potential　for　sulfur-free　LHFs　production　in　the　industry　by　breakthrough　experiment　for　adsorbing　low-concentration　DBT　(100　ppmw　S)　with　ca.　0　ppmw　S　content　in　outlet　LHFs.　And　the　mechanism　investigation　on　the　adsorption　isotherms　and　kinetics　indicates　that　the　adsorption　process　of　DBT　is　controlled　by　chemisorption.　Furthermore,　DFT　calculations　suggest　that　the　Zn,　N-co-doped　carbons　show　stronger　adsorption　strength　(e.g.,　DBT,　−1.79　eV)　than　the　sole　N-doped　carbons　(−0.93　eV),　indicating　the　main　contribution　of　Zn,　N-cooperated　adsorptive　sites.　The　reported　Zn-NC-T　equips　with　advantages　of　low-cost　raw　materials,　high　adsorption　capacity　and　good　reusability,　making　it　promising　candidate　for　production　of　sulfur-free　LHFs.　©　2023　Elsevier　Ltd