A method for reducing the level of elemental sulfur from sulfur-containing
hydrocarbon streams as well as reducing the level of total sulfur in such
streams. Preferred hydrocarbon streams include fuel streams such as
naphtha and distillate streams that are transported through a pipeline.
The sulfur-containing hydrocarbon stream is blended with an aqueous
solution of water, a caustic, and at least one metal sulfide thereby
resulting in an organic phase and an aqueous phase. The blended stream is
then passed through a bed of solids having a suitable surface area so
that a substantial amount of the sulfur moieties are removed by the
aqueous phase.