Sorbent

1. A sorbent composition comprising an eggshell layer consisting of at least one copper compound and a binder material of alumina or hydrated alumina on the exterior surface of a support material, wherein:

the support material is in the form of a shaped particulate unit with a diameter or width in the range of 1-10 mm,

the eggshell layer has a thickness in the range of 1-200 μm, and

the sorbent composition comprises 0.5 to 20% by weight of copper.

2. The sorbent composition according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one copper compound comprises copper (II) sulphide.

3. The sorbent composition according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one copper compound is basic copper carbonate or copper (II) oxide.

4. The sorbent composition according to claim 1 , wherein the support material comprises an alumina, hydrated alumina, titania, zirconia, silica or aluminosilicate, or a mixture of two or more of these.

5. The sorbent composition according to claim 1 , wherein the support material is an alumina.

6. The sorbent composition according to claim 1 wherein the support material is in the form of shaped particulate unit that is a sphere, ring, trilobe, quadralobe, or cylinder.

7. The sorbent composition according to claim 6 , wherein the support material has between 2 and 10 holes extending therethrough.

8. The sorbent composition according to claim 1 , wherein the support material has a BET surface area in the range of 10-330 m 2 ·g −1 and a pore volume in the range of 0.3-0.9 cm 3 ·g −1 .

9. The sorbent composition according to claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the layer is in the range of 1 to 150 μm.

10. The sorbent composition according to claim 1 , wherein the sorbent comprises 0.75-10% by weight of copper.

11. A process for removing a heavy metal from a process fluid comprising contacting said fluid with a sorbent of claim 2 .

12. A process for removing a heavy metal from a fluid comprising contacting said fluid with a sorbent composition of claim 3 wherein the fluid further comprises one or more sulphur compounds.

13. The process according to claim 11 wherein the heavy metal is mercury and/or arsenic.

14. The process according to claim 11 wherein the fluid is a hydrocarbon stream.

15. The process according to claim 12 wherein the heavy metal is mercury and/or arsenic.

16. The process according to claim 12 wherein the fluid is a hydrocarbon stream.

17. A sorbent composition comprising a layer on the exterior surface of a support material, the layer consisting of at least one copper compound and a binder material of alumina or hydrated alumina and having a thickness in the range 1-200 μm, wherein the support material is in the form of a shaped particulate unit with a diameter or width in the range 1-10 mm, the sorbent composition comprises 0.5 to 20% by weight of copper, and wherein the sorbent composition is obtained by

(i) forming a slurry of basic copper carbonate and a dispersible alumina binder material and milling the slurry,

(ii) applying the slurry on an exterior surface of the support material by dipping or spraying to form a coated support material, and

(iii) drying the coated support material to form the sorbent composition.

18. The sorbent composition of claim 1 , wherein the support material is in the form of a shaped particulate unit with a diameter or width in the range of 3-10 mm.

19. The sorbent composition of claim 17 , wherein the support material is in the form of a shaped particulate unit with a diameter or width in the range of 3-10 mm.

20. The sorbent composition of claim 17 , wherein the layer has a thickness in a range of 1-150 μm.

21. The sorbent composition of claim 1 , wherein the binder material is alumina.