Desulfurization and novel sorbent for same

A process of making a sorbent composition comprising:

• (a) admixing a first support component and a second support component to form a support mix;
• (b) particulating said support mix to thereby provide a support particulate;
• (c) contacting said support particulate with a promoter to thereby provide a promoted particulate comprising an unreduced promoter;
• (d) reducing said promoted particulate to thereby provide a reduced particulate comprising a reduced-valence promoter;
• and
• (e) incorporating a silicate with a silicate-enhanced component selected from a group consisting of said support mix, said support particulate, said promoted particulate, and combinations thereof.

A process for removing sulfur from a hydrocarbon-containing fluid stream, said process comprising the steps of:

• (a) contacting said hydrocarbon-containing fluid stream with a sorbent composition comprising a support, a promoter, and a silicate in a desulfurization zone under conditions such that there is formed a desulfurized fluid stream and a sulfurized sorbent;
• (b) separating said desulfurized fluid stream from said sulfurized sorbent;
• (c) regenerating at least a portion of the separated sulfurized sorbent in a regeneration zone so as to remove at least a portion of the sulfur therefrom and provide a desulfurized sorbent;
• (d) reducing said desulfurized sorbent in an activation zone to provide a reduced sorbent composition which will affect the removal of sulfur from said hydrocarbon-containing fluid stream when contacted with the same;
• and
• (e) returning at least a portion of said reduced sorbent composition to said desulfurization zone.