A novel process effective for the removal of organic sulfur compounds,
organic nitrogen compounds and light olefins from liquid hydrocarbons is
disclosed. The process more specifically addresses the removal of these
contaminants from aromatic compounds including benzene and toluene and
from naphtha. The liquid hydrocarbons are contacted with a blend of at
least one metal oxide and an acidic zeolite. Preferably, the metal oxide
comprises nickel oxide and molybdenum oxide and the acidic zeolite is
acidic stabilized zeolite Y. This blend has a significant capacity for
adsorption of impurities and can be regenerated by oxidative treatment.