Adsorbent bed with increased hydrothermal stability

A method of removing C5+ or C6+ hydrocarbons from a gas feed stream during an adsorption step of an adsorption cycle, wherein the C5+ or C6+ compounds comprise one or more of pentane, hexane, benzene, heptane, octane, nonane, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, or neopentane, and wherein the method comprises:

• directing the gas feed stream having an initial mole fraction of the C5+ or C6+ hydrocarbons toward one or more adsorbent beds of one or more adsorber units, the one or more adsorbent beds comprising:
• a first adsorbent layer to remove C5+ or C6+ hydrocarbons from the gas feed stream, the first adsorbent layer comprising a water stable adsorbent, wherein the water stable adsorbent comprises an amorphous silica adsorbent or an amorphous silica-alumina adsorbent;
• a second adsorbent layer downstream from the first adsorbent layer to remove additional C5+ or C6+ hydrocarbons, the second adsorbent layer comprising a microporous adsorbent, wherein the microporous adsorbent comprises amorphous SiO2 and optionally further comprises Al2O3 and wherein the microporous adsorbent comprises amorphous SiO2 at a weight percent at least about 85%;
• and
• a third adsorbent layer downstream from the second adsorbent layer, the third adsorbent layer comprising one or more zeolites or an additional microporous adsorbent;
• wherein the gas feed stream has a reduced mole fraction of aromatics and/or aliphatic C8+ or C9+ hydrocarbons when the gas feed stream reaches the third adsorbent layer that is maintained for at least 90% of the duration of the adsorption step, and wherein the reduced mole fraction is no more than about 90% of the initial mole fraction.