METHOD FOR SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETE REMOVAL OF HYDROGEN SULFIDE FROM SULFUR BEARING INDUSTRIAL GASES

METHOD FOR SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETE REMOVAL OF HYDROGEN SULFIDE FROM SULFUR BEARING INDUSTRIAL GASES of the Invention Hydrogen sulfide is substantially completely removed from a sulfur bearing industrial gas stream by absorbing the H2S into a liquid absorbent, stripping the absorbent of absorbed H2S and reacting it with SO2 in a ratio of H2S/SO2 greater than the stoichiometric ratio of 2.0:1.0 to produce elemental sulfur and water, leaving a tall gas containing an excess of hydrogen sulfide but no sulfur dioxide. At least the last stage of the reaction is carried out in a liquid reaction medium at a temperature not i greater than 160.degree. C. The excess H2S assures complete reduction at these temperatures of all SO2 to elemental sulfur. The remaining excess H2S is then recycled in the tall gas back into the original industrial gas stream prior to the point of contact of the industrial gas stream with the liquid absorbing solution.