A process for recovering metals from a stream containing hydrocarbons and carbonaceous residues comprising sending the stream for extraction by mixing the stream with a hydrophilizing agent to remove the hydrophobic components of the stream, sending the mixture of the stream and hydrophilizing agent for separation, separating a liquid phase containing most of the hydrophilizing agent and hydrocarbons dissolved from a solid phase, sending the separated solid phase for leaching with an alkaline solution in the presence of air and/or oxygen, sending the leached mixture for separation, and separating the solid residue from the liquor.