Adsorbents and methods for the adsorptive separation of para-xylene from a mixture containing at least one other C.sub.8 aromatic hydrocarbon (e.g., a mixture of ortho-xylene, meta-xylene, para-xylene, and ethylbenzene) are described. Suitable binderless adsorbents (e.g., formulated with the substantial absence of an amorphous material that normally reduces selective pore volume), particularly those with a water content from about 3% to about 5.5% by weight, improve capacity and/or mass transfer. These properties are especially advantageous for improving productivity in low temperature, low cycle time adsorptive separation operations in a simulated moving bed mode.