A method for removal of mercury from a gaseous stream containing the
mercury, hydrogen and/or CO, and hydrogen sulfide and/or carbonyl sulfide
in which a dispersed Cu-containing sorbent is contacted with the gaseous
stream at a temperature in the range of about 25.degree. C. to about
300.degree. C. until the sorbent is spent. The spent sorbent is contacted
with a desorbing gaseous stream at a temperature equal to or higher than
the temperature at which the mercury adsorption is carried out, producing
a regenerated sorbent and an exhaust gas comprising released mercury. The
released mercury in the exhaust gas is captured using a high-capacity
sorbent, such as sulfur-impregnated activated carbon, at a temperature
less than about 100.degree. C. The regenerated sorbent may then be used
to capture additional mercury from the mercury-containing gaseous stream.