Activated metal-free boron nitride (BN) adsorbent has been prepared by a surfactant assisted regulation strategy. By tuning the variety of surfactants (such as P123, PVP, F127), usage and reaction temperature, the adsorptive performance of activated BN was optimized. The optimized BN-P123 adsorbent displays porous structure with a high surface area about 1185 m(2)/g and exhibits excellent adsorptive desulfurization activity for dibenzothiophene (45.7 mg S/g adsorbent for 500 ppmw sulfur model oil), which is comparable or even superior to the state-of-the-art adsorbent. Additionally, this activated BN-P123 could realize the ultra-deep desulfurization through adsorptive process to reach the latest international standard (less than 10 ppmw). Considering the nontoxic metal-free feature and the excellent adsorption performance, the obtained activated BN-P123 may be a powerful candidate to meet the requirements of potential industrial applications. (C) 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE