One-time ex-situ UV-treatment before breakthrough experiments improved desulfurization performance of TiO2 by 50%. TiO2 was able to maintain excellent desulfurization performance after ex-situ UV-treatment. Sulfur removal species generated after photo-treatment on TiO2 were proven to be stable after the thermal regeneration step. Photo-induced sulfur removal active sites on TiO2 were observed via in-situ IR and XPS.