Process for scavenging mercaptans using a scavenger that has undergone a step of co2 passivation

A process for trapping mercaptans contained in a sulfur-containing hydrocarbon feedstock at a temperature of between 40° C. and 250° C., a pressure of between 0.2 MPa and 5 MPa, at an hourly space velocity, defined as the volume flow rate of feedstock at the inlet per volume of trapping mass, of between 0.1 h−1 and 50 h−1, in the presence of a trapping mass comprising an active phase comprising at least one group VIII, IB or IIB metal, and an inorganic support selected from the group consisting of alumina, silica, silica-alumina, and clays, said trapping mass having been obtained by a preparation process comprising at least the following steps:

• a) carrying out a step of bringing the inorganic support into contact with at least one precursor of the active phase in order to obtain a trapping mass precursor;
• b) carrying out at least one step of drying the trapping mass precursor obtained on conclusion of step a) at a temperature below 250° C. in order to obtain a dried trapping mass;
• c) optionally, carrying out at least one heat treatment of the dried trapping mass obtained on conclusion of step b) at a temperature of between 250° C. and 1000° C. in order to obtain a calcined trapping mass;
• d) carrying out a step of reducing the dried trapping mass obtained on conclusion of step b) or the calcined trapping mass obtained on conclusion of step c), by bringing said trapping mass precursor into contact with a reducing gas at a temperature between 100° C. and 500° C. in order to obtain a trapping mass at least partially in reduced form;
• e) carrying out a step of passivating the trapping mass at least partially in reduced form obtained on conclusion of step d) in the presence of carbon dioxide in order to obtain said trapping mass.