Nanoporous sulfur-doped carbon and its composite with 2 wt.% graphene phase were used as separation media for the removal of dibenzothiophenes from model diesel fuel and tested as photocatalysts for their oxidation. The samples with preadsorbed compounds were exposed to visible light or UV to evaluate the effects of irradiation on the stability of the adsorbed compounds. The amount adsorbed on the composite was smaller than that on the parent carbon owing to a decrease in porosity of the former material. On the surface of both materials exposure to either visible light or UV resulted in an extensive oxidation of dibenzothiophenes. The presence of the graphene phase enhanced the transport of photogenerated electrons and delayed their recombination with holes. The reducing effects of light-induced electrons on the surface of the composite related to the presence of graphene led to the strong oxidative degradation of refractory sulfur compounds. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.