PROCESS FOR SCAVENGING MERCAPTANS USING A SCAVENGER THAT HAS UNDERGONE A STEP OF COPASSIVATION

The present invention relates to a process for scavenging mercaptans contained in a hydrocarbon-based feedstock containing sulfur, optionally partially desulfurised following a step of catalytic hydrodesulfurisation, 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 volumetric flow rate of the incoming feedstock over the volume of scavenger, of between 0.1 h-1 and 50 h-1, in the presence of a scavenger comprising an active phase based on at least one metal from group VIII, IB or IIB, and an oxide or a porous oxide mixture, the active metal of which has been activated beforehand by reduction and then passivated with a view to the loading thereof by a carbon dioxide treatment.