Selective sorbents for purification of hydrocarbons

A process for removing at least one of thiophene and thiophene compounds from liquid fuel, the process comprising:

• contacting the liquid fuel with a dehydrated adsorbent which is dehydrated via heating and which preferentially adsorbs the at least one of thiophene and thiophene compounds, at a selected temperature and pressure, thereby producing a non-adsorbed component and a thiophene/thiophene compound-rich adsorbed component, wherein the dehydrated adsorbent comprises at least one of a metal and a metal ion, the at least one of metal and metal ion adapted to form π-complexation bonds with the at least one of thiophene and thiophene compounds, and wherein the preferential adsorption occurs by π-complexation;
• wherein the liquid fuel is at least one of unleaded gasoline and diesel fuel;
• and
• wherein at ambient temperature and 10−5 atm vapor pressure, the dehydrated adsorbent adsorbs more than about 1 mmol/gram of the at least one of thiophene and thiophene compounds;
• and
• adding a guard bed adjacent an inlet to the dehydrated adsorbent such that the liquid fuel contacts the guard bed prior to contacting the dehydrated adsorbent.