Selective sorbents for purification of hydrocarbons

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

• contacting the liquid fuel with a dehydrated adsorbent 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;
• the dehydrated adsorbent comprising a carrier having a surface area, the carrier having a monolayer of a metal compound dispersed on substantially the entire surface area, the metal compound comprising at least one of a metal and a metal cation 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, the metal compound releasably retaining the thiophene compounds;
• and the carrier comprising a plurality of pores having a pore size greater than the effective molecular diameter of the at least one of thiophene and thiophene compounds;
• and
• changing at least one of the pressure and temperature to thereby release the thiophene/thiophene compound-rich component from the dehydrated adsorbent;
• wherein the liquid fuel is at least one of unleaded gasoline and diesel fuel;
• and wherein, prior to contacting the liquid fuel with the dehydrated adsorbent, the process comprises pretreating the dehydrated adsorbent, the pretreatment process comprising the steps of:
• activating an adsorbent to form the dehydrated adsorbent between about 250° C. and about 600° C. in at least one of a dry air atmosphere, air, an inert atmosphere, and a reducing atmosphere for an amount of time ranging between about 5 hours and about 15 hours;
• and then
• cooling the adsorbent in at least one of a dry air atmosphere and inert atmosphere.