Zinc-based desulfurization sorbents supported on TiO2, SiO2 and Al2O3 and modified by treatment at various temperatures were prepared. Their sulfur removing capacities in a fixed-bed reactor and characteristics of their physical and chemical properties were tested during multiple cycles of sulfidation/regeneration. The best sorbent with high sulfur removing capacity and resistance to the deactivation at high and middle temperature was the alumina supported sorbent pretreated at 800 ℃. The active species was the zinc oxide phase coated on the external surface of the alumina support without forming the spinel structure of zinc-aluminate and the change in the physical properties was not found during repeated sulfidation and regeneration.