Process for the desulfurization of hydrocarbons

Claim 1

A PROCESS FOR DESULPHURISING HYDROCARBONS WHICH COMPRISES PASSING THE HYDROCARBONS IN THE VAPOR PHASE AT TEMPERATURES BETWEEN 80* C. AND 400* C. INTO CONTACT WITH A DESULPHURISING AGENT COMPRISING ESSENTIALLY AT LEAST ONE ALKALI CARBONATE AND METALLIC IRON, THE SAID AGENT BEING PREPARED BY INTIMATELY ADMIXING AT LEAST ONE ALKALI CARBONATE, IN A PROPORTION BETWEEN 5% AND 40% OF THE MIXTURE, WITH IRON OXIDE, AND ACTIVATING THE SAID DESULPHURISING AGENT BY REDUCTION WITH A REDUCING AGENT SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF HYDROGEN, CARBON MONOXIDE, AND MIXTURES THEREOF AT A TEMPERATURE BETWEEN APPROXIMATELY 210* C. AND 300* C. FOR A PERIOD OF ABOUT 3 TO 6 HOURS, WHEREBY THE IRON OXIDE IS AT LEAST IN GREATER PART REDUCED TO A PHYSICAL FROM SUITABLE AS A CATALYST FOR THE HYDROGENATION OF CARBON MONOXIDE AND IS ACTIVATED FOR THE SAID DESULPHURISING PROCESS.