Selective sorbents for purification of hydrocarbons

摘要

A method for removing thiophene and thiophene compounds from liquid fuel includes contacting the liquid fuel with an adsorbent which preferentially adsorbs the thiophene and thiophene compounds. The adsorption takes place at a selected temperature and pressure, thereby producing a non-adsorbed component and a thiophene/thiophene compound-rich adsorbed component. The adsorbent includes either a metal or a metal cation that is adapted to form pi-complexation bonds with the thiophene and/or thiophene compounds, and the preferential adsorption occurs by pi-complexation. A further method includes selective removal of aromatic compounds from a mixture of aromatic and aliphatic compounds.