TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The nickel and at least one silver, gold, lithium, barium and strontium precursors are impregnated or co-precipitated over an alumina support. The promoter comprises at least one silver and gold (0.1-4, preferably 1.5-2.5 wt.%); lithium (0.1-0.5 wt.%); silver, lithium or gold reduced from their corresponding oxide. The support is alumina. In the method (M2), the group 3d and/or group VIII element is nickel (60-85 wt.%), palladium, and/or platinum (preferably nickel). The nickel is reduced form of nickel oxide. The nickel oxide is obtained through calcination of nickel oxide precursor (preferably nickel carbonate/nickel hydroxide). Preferred Adsorbent: The adsorbent has a surface area of 100-300 (preferably 150-200) m2/g. The adsorbent is in the form of powder and or pellet/bead and/or extrudates in the size of 0.2-5 mm. Preferred Method: In the method (M1), the impregnation is carried out by hydrothermal or microwave hydrothermal aging of nickel, and at least one of silver, gold, lithium, barium and strontium precursors over an alumina support. The adsorbent is formed using precursor (preferably hydroxides and carbonates form, especially carbonate form). In the method (M2), the activation of the adsorbent is carried out at 350-500degreesC. The hydrocarbon feed has sulfur content not greater than 2000 ppmw and in the boiling point of 10-360degreesC. The method (M2) is carried out with or without directly contacting hydrogen at 100-400 (preferably 200) or 30-400 (preferably 50)degreesC; or at pressure of 1-15 (preferably 2) atmosphere; in the weight hourly space velocity of 0.5-5 (preferably 2) hour-1.; with hydrocarbon stream containing oxygenates. In the method (M2), the adsorbent is regenerated through directly and/or indirectly contacting solvent, hydrogen, air and/or nitrogen (preferably regenerated by directly contacting with hydrogen at 350-550, preferably at 400 degreesC, especially preferably regenerated using hydrogen flow rate of 2-20, preferably 4-6 cc/g, particularly regenerated by solvent stripping by employing polar solvents such methanol followed by direct activation with hydrogen at 150-550, preferably 200-350 degreesC) for 0.5-10 (preferably up to 2) hours. EXAMPLE - An adsorbent was prepared by mixing aqueous nickel nitrate solution (2 M) and aqueous aluminum nitrate solution (0.6 M) to form mixture-1. Aqueous sodium carbonate solution (2.4 M) was added to mixture-1 to co-precipitate the carbonate of aluminum, nickel to form the mixture-2. Thus, obtained mixture-2 was aged under hydrothermal conditions at 150degreesC overnight and subsequently filtered, washed and dried at 110degreesC for over night to form the mixture-3. Then the mixture-3 was heated in the presence of air, to 500degreesC at the heating rate of 2degreesC/minute, with intermediate holding for 2 hours at 200degreesC, and held for 10 hours at 500degreesC, to form the mixture-4. Thus obtained product was labeled as sorbent A. About 1 g of the sorbent A was loaded in side a glass reactor. Hydrogen gas was passed through the material at the flow rate of 120 cc/minute. The material was heat treated in presence of hydrogen to 430degreesC at the rate of 2degreesC/minute, and held at this temperature for 4 hours. Then the the mixture was cooled to reaction temperature, 170degreesC under hydrogen flow and transferred to autoclave having diesel with total sulfur level of 540 ppmw and held at 170degreesC for 1 hour and the diesel was separated from the sorbent material and analyzed for total sulfur as per ASTM 5453 method. The estimated equilibrium sulfur concentration for sorbent A, using feed diesel having total sulfur of 540 ppmw, was as follows: for fresh, single regeneration and two regeneration steps material, the equilibrium sulfur concentration were 260, 345 and 290 ppmw; and capacity of 2.1, 1.5 and 1.9 mg/g respectively.