PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COPPER SULFIDE

A process for preparing a copper sulfide of the formula CuxSy, wherein the process comprises the following steps: (i) contacting the mercury-containing hydrocarbon fluid stream with a sorbent comprising copper sulfide of the formula CuxSy, wherein x and y are integer or non-integer values; and (ii) separating a fluid product from the sorbent, wherein the fluid product has a reduced mercury content compared to the mercury-containing hydrocarbon fluid stream; wherein the copper sulfide is obtained or obtainable by a process comprising the following steps: (a) reacting an aqueous solution of a copper salt with a molar excess of a sulfiding agent so as to precipitate copper sulfide from the solution; (b) isolating the copper sulfide precipitate from the reaction mixture; and (c) drying the copper sulfide precipitate at a temperature of less than 100?C.