Fixed bed apparatus with support structure and methods for processing hydrocarbons using the same

A collector-less clay treatment apparatus comprising:

• a collector-less vessel comprising a vertically-oriented cylindrical body and enclosing an interior space;
• a distribution nozzle positioned below an upper head portion of the vessel;
• an Attapulgus active clay material disposed within the interior space of the vessel;
• a circular clay retention structure having a diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the vessel and positioned within a bottom head portion of the vessel, wherein the circular clay retention structure comprises a wire mesh comprising openings sufficiently small to retain the active clay material above the clay retention structure and is coupled with and abuttingly disposed against a perforated plate, and a pair of concentric support rings each abuttingly disposed against the perforated plate and the bottom head portion of the vessel, wherein a first ring has a height greater than a height of the second ring;
• and
• an outlet nozzle disposed below the clay retention structure.