An adsorber for utilization in purification systems for cryogenic fluid processing can include a first layer of adsorbent material and a second layer of adsorbent material within a bed of adsorbent material within the adsorber. The first layer can include alumina or other water removal adsorbent material while the second layer can include NaMSX or other suitable molecular sieve adsorbent material. The first layer can be sized to be substantially smaller than the second layer to facilitate a pre-selected ratio of water adsorption to molecular sieve adsorption so that water can break through the first layer to the second layer during purification operations while the volume of the adsorber can be provided in a much smaller size with much less adsorbent material utilized in the bed as compared to conventional designs. Embodiments can provide an increased purification operational capacity with reduced need for adsorbent material.