Abstract:
Toluene-insoluble hydrocarbon-containing compounds are selectively separated from a hydrocarbon-containing feedstock containing at least 5 wt. % n-heptane insoluble hydrocarbon-containing materials, wherein at least 10 wt. % of the n-heptane insoluble hydrocarbon-containing materials are toluene insoluble hydrocarbon-containing materials, by contacting the hydrocarbon-containing feedstock with a porous silica adsorbent having a median pore size diameter of less than 180 Å at a temperature of from 120° C. to 300° C.