A type of visible light catalysis Cu-BiVO4 is prepared by hydrothermal method and characterized by UV-vis DRS and XRD. Using the thiophene in octane as the simulation of model sulfur compounds, the desulfurization activity of Cu-BiVO4 was researched by photocatalytic oxidation in visible light. The effects of pH of catalysts prepared, irradiation time, photocatalyst Cu-BiVO4 mass, air flow on the desulfurization efficiency were also investigated. The results show that the Cu-BiVO4 catalyst has a significant red-shift in the absorption band in the visible region, and the absorption intensity increases greatly for the composite catalyst. Under suitable conditions, the desulfurization rate of Cu-BiVO4 to the model compound can reach 95%.