Method for reducing the amount of high molecular weight organic sulfur picked-up by hydrocarbon streams transported through a pipeline

A process for removing high molecular weight organic sulfur species having a molecular weight of 200 and higher, from hydrocarbon streams by passing said hydrocarbon stream through a bed of adsorbent material, which adsorbent material has a Ni content from about 50 wt. % to about 90 wt. %, from about 5 to 20 wt. % of a Group IVA oxide selected from SiO2 and GeO2, from about 1 to 10 wt % of an alkaline-earth metal oxide, and contains substantially no aluminum compounds, wherein all weight percents are based on the total weight of the adsorbent, and which adsorbent has a BET surface area of about 200 m2/g to about 400 m2/g and a nickel surface area greater than 20 m2/g based on dynamic H2 chemisorption,

• wherein passing said hydrocarbon stream through a bed of adsorbent material is performed in multiple temperature steps starting at a first temperature of about 100° C. to about 150° C. and increasing at an effective rate until a final temperature of about 200° C. to 400° C. is reached, the temperature is held at each step for an effective amount of time. and the temperature is held at the first temperature for about 4 to 10 days.