The invention describes a mass for scavenging mercaptans which is particularly suitable for the treatment of olefinic gasoline cuts containing sulfur such as gasolines resulting from catalytic cracking. The scavenging mass comprises an active phase based on group VIII, IB or IIB metal particles which is prepared by a step of bringing a porous support into contact with a metal salt of said group VIII, IB or IIB metal and a step heating the resulting mixture to a temperature above the melting point of said metal salt. The invention also relates to a process for using said scavenging mass for the adsorption of mercaptans.