Column activated carbons were prepared from walnut shell chars and transition metal oxide powders (i.e. Co 2 O 3 , Ni 2 O 3 , CuO and V 2 O 5 ) with blending method. Samples were characterized by N 2 adsorption-desorption, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The texture properties of all modified activated carbons with metal oxides dosage of \5 wt% did not change evidently. The basic functionalities of these activated carbons increased relative to blank carbon. Moreover, metal species with different oxidation states coexisted on the modified activated carbons. The optimal dosage of all metal oxides was 2 wt%. The sulfur capacities of these modified activated carbons were 7.7-46.0 % higher than that of blank activated carbon and the highest occurred for V 2 O 5 modified activated carbon. The improved desulfurization performance was mainly attributed to the higher catalytic activity of the active metal oxides formed in the presence of O 2 during the desulfurization process.