An adsorption/desorption process for selectively removing nitriles from a hydrocarbon feedstock includes the steps of: (a) providing a hydrocarbon feedstock having a nitrile content of less than or equal to about 400 ppm; (b) providing an adsorbent for selective removal of nitrile from a hydrocarbon feedstock comprising a substantially homogeneous mixture of a cationic nonacidic zeolite and an inorganic oxide matrix, the zeolite having an accessibility index of between about 0.1 to about 0.4; (c) contacting the feedstock and the adsorbent at nitrile adsorption conditions whereby at least about 80% of the nitrile content is adsorbed by the adsorbent during contact with at least about 200 volumes of the feedstock per volume of the adsorbent so as to provide a used adsorbent having nitrile molecules adsorbed thereon; and (d) contacting the used adsorbent with a desorbent at desorption conditions so as to remove the nitrile molecules and provide a renewed adsorbent.