Patent ID: 7556672

Claim:
A method for removal of mercury from a gaseous stream comprising said mercury, at least one of molecular hydrogen and carbon monoxide, and at least one of hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) and carbonyl sulfide (COS) comprising the steps of: contacting a dispersed Cu-containing sorbent with said gaseous stream at a temperature in a range of about 25° C. to about 300° C. until mercury concentration in said gaseous stream subsequent to contacting said sorbent exceeds a predetermined breakthrough level, forming a spent sorbent comprising sorbed mercury; contacting said spent sorbent with a substantially mercury- and H 2 S/COS-free gaseous stream comprising a reducing gas, producing released mercury and a regenerated sorbent; and capturing said released mercury using a high capacity sorbent at a temperature less than about 100° C.