Patent ID: 8361312

Claim:
A method for removing impurities from a hydrocarbon stream comprising at least one vinyl aromatic compound, said method comprising: contacting the hydrocarbon stream with at least one sorbent that adsorbs at least a portion of the impurities from the hydrocarbon stream to provide a purified hydrocarbon stream; separating the purified hydrocarbon stream from the at least one sorbent; and pretreating the at least one sorbent before the contacting step; wherein the pretreating step comprises making the at least one sorbent operable for adsorbing the impurities; wherein the pretreating step comprises: a) washing the at least one sorbent with a solvent; b) adjusting the pH of the at least one sorbent while in the solvent to a pH of greater than 9; c) degassing the at least one sorbent while in the solvent; d) removing the solvent from the at least one sorbent; and e) drying the at least one sorbent.