Process for removing mercury from gaseous streams

A process is described for removing mercury from gases evolved 18 from an adsorbent 14 during its regeneration, comprising passing the gases directly through an absorbent bed 22 comprising a particulate sulphided transition metal compound to remove mercury therefrom. The evolved gases may comprise a regeneration gas consisting of hydrogen, nitrogen, helium or argon. Preferably, the sulphided transition metal compound will consist of one or more sulphided first row transition metals e.g. Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu or Zn, compounds and may be selected from one or more of the hydroxides, carbonates and hydroxy-carbonates. A particularly suitable compound being basic copper carbonate.