A process for removal of mercury from a liquid hydrocarbon.

摘要

According to the present invention which comprises contacting the liquid hydrocarbon with a sulfur compound represented by a general formula MM'Sx, wherein M is selected from a group consisting of alkali metal and ammonium radical, M' is selected from a group consisting of alkali metal, ammonium radical and hydrogen and x is a number of at least 1, the sulfur compound and mercury in the liquid hydrocarbon reacts to form mercury sulfide which is insoluble in the liquid hydrocarbon to be separated therefrom. If the liquid hydrocarbon contains organic mercury compounds together with elemental mercury ionized mercury and ionizable mercury compounds, the above-mentioned process is to be combined with a process of contacting the liquid hydrocarbon with an adsorbent comprising heavy metal sulfide to adsorb the organic mercury compounds together with the mercury sulfide which is formed in the above mentioned-process.