Sorbents with Ag loading supported on NaY were synthesised by a liquid-phase ion exchange method taking advantage of microwaves irradiation. The adsorption desulphurisation activity of the AgY adsorbent exchanged with AgNO3 solution of 0.2molL1, microwave irradiation time 20min with power 240W as well as calcined at 500 degrees C exhibited the best performance. Equilibrium isotherm shows that the adsorption of thiophene over the as-prepared AgY can be represented by the Langmuir model. Kinetics of adsorptive desulphurisation followed the pesudo-second-order model and the equilibrium adsorption capacity q2=0.893mmolg1. (c) 2012 Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering