Process for eliminating mercury and possibly arsenic in hydrocarbons

A process of eliminating mercury from a charge of hydrocarbons containing 0.005-3% by weight of (a) sulfur, and (b) mercury compounds containing at least two carbon atoms, comprising:

• reacting a mixture consisting essentially of hydrogen and said charge in the presence of a catalyst so as to activate and convert said mercury compounds to material which will react with a mercury collection mass, said catalyst containing 0.01-5% by weight of at least one metal M selected from the group consisting of nickel and cobalt;
• 5-25% by weight of at least one metal N selected from the group consisting of molybdenum and tungsten, wherein the atomic ratio of M/N is 0.3:1 to 0.7:1 and at least one of the metal M and the metal N is in sulfurized form to an extent of at least 50% of the total quantity;
• and, optionally, at least one active phase support based on at least one porous mineral matrix, said catalyst being in a first reactor, and
• passing effluent from said first reactor to a second reactor containing said mercury collection mass containing a sulfide of at least one metal P selected from the group consisting of copper, iron, and silver or sulfur, and an active phase support, wherein the process is conducted with:
• an operating pressure of 1-50 absolute bars,
• a hydrogen flow of 1-1000 liters of gaseous hydrogen at STP per liter of liquid charge,
• an hourly volumetric rate, expressed by volumes of liquid charge, of 0.1-30 volumes per volume of catalyst and 0.1-30 volumes per volume of mercury collection mass,
• an operating temperature of the catalyst of 180.degree.-450.degree. C., and
• an operating temperature of the mercury collection mass of 0.degree.-400.degree. C.