Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) are a class of synthetic two-dimensional nano-structured anionic clays whose structure can be described as nano-layered ordered material. This study aims to use nano-layered materials as a host for organic guests having required functional groups such as azo-compounds to alter LDH surface properties from hydrophilic to hydrophobic and increase sorption capacity for sulfur and aromatic compounds through constructing nano-hybrid material. A large anionic pigment (phenyl azobenzoic sodium salt) has been intercalated into Zn-Al LDH and a complex system of supra-molecular host-guest interactions was formed. We have examined the unusual bi-functionality effects caused by hybridization for removing sulfur and aromatic compounds from petroleum waxes. Results clearly indicated that nano-layered material decreased sulfur content and mono-aromatic compounds of heavy slack wax. In the same run, it completely removed di-aromatic compounds. In the same trend, the nano-hybrid material showed high efficiency for removing aromatic and sulfur compounds from crude petrolatum. This leads to an improvement for the physical properties of heavy slack wax and crude petrolatum. (c) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.