This invention is a method of purifying fuel streams containing
organosulfur impurities. The fuel stream is oxidized with an organic
hydroperoxide in the presence of an oxidation catalyst to form a sulfone
product. The alcohol product of the organic hydroperoxide is then removed
from the oxidized fuel stream, followed by extraction of the sulfone
product by solid-liquid extraction using solid adsorbents. The alcohol
removal step is found to improve the adsorption capacity of the solid
adsorbents.