Adsorption removal of basic nitrogen compounds in the shale diesel with USY molecular sieves was investigated. The effect of adsorption time, temperature and adsorbent/oil weight ratio on the nitrogen removal rate was studied, and found that highest nitrogen removal rate (30.73%) are obtained under the following conditions: the adsorbent to oil weight ratio of 0.03, the adsorption temperature of 120 ℃, the adsorption time of 30 min. Simultaneously, the static equilibrium adsorption capacity can reach 27.2 mg/g. After regenerated for several cycles, the removal rate of basic nitrogen compounds is still more than 25%. Adsorption kinetics suggested that adsorption denitrogenation follows the second-order equation.