CuCl impregnated MIL-100(Cr) was prepared with a facile method and then utilized for the adsorptive denitrogenation of model fossil fuels. CuCl was produced from CuCl2 solution at ambient temperature and pressure by reduction of CuCl2 using sodium sulfite as a mild reducing agent. Although the porosity of the adsorbent was reduced after impregnation, the adsorption of nitrogen-containing compounds (NCCs) increased. However, the adsorption of NCCs over CuCl2/MIL-100(Cr), which was produced in a similar manner but in the absence of Na2SO3, was decreased as a result of the reduced porosity. The maximum adsorption capacities of CuCl/MIL-100(Cr) as compared to pristine MIL-100(Cr) for quinoline (QUI) and indole (IND) were improved by 9% and 15%, respectively, which may be attributed to the pi-complexation effect of the Cu+ sites of CuCl. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.