Desulfurization and novel sorbent for same

A process of making a sorbent composition, said process comprising the steps of:

• (a) admixing a first support component and a second support component to provide a support mix;
• (b) particulating the support mix to provide a support particulate;
• (c) steam-treating said support particulate to provide a steam-treated particulate;
• (d) incorporating said steam-treated particulate with a promoter to provide a promoted particulate having an unreduced promoter;
• and
• (e) reducing said promoted particulate to provide a reduced sorbent composition having a reduced-valence promoter.

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 reduced-valence promoter and a steam-treated support 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.