Applicant has developed an improved adsorbent useful in removing contaminants from various hydrocarbon streams. If the at least one discarded card is to be included in the at least one secondary set of card positions, the method further provides for populating the at least one secondary set of card positions with the at least one discarded card. The ink contains an IR-absorbing phthalocyanine dye formulated in a solvent-based or oil-based ink vehicle.