Patent ID: 8372365

Claim:
A process for continuously removing hydrogen sulfide from a gaseous stream comprising the following steps in combination: a. providing a feed stream containing hydrogen sulfide to an reduction-oxidation process; b. contacting the feed gas stream with a chelated metal catalyst in an absorber operating a pressure P 1 that is greater than 100 psig to produce a first stream of hydrogen sulfide-free gas and a second stream comprising elemental sulfur and chelated metal catalyst solution; c. removing the first stream from the process; d. providing an oxidizer operating a pressure P 2 , where P 2 ≧P 1 +5 psi; e. directing at least a portion of the second stream from step b. to the oxidizer; f. introducing a pressurized, oxygen containing gas stream into the oxidizer such that the oxygen diffuses through and contacts the second stream; and g. separating elemental sulfur from the chelated metal catalyst solution in the oxidizer and removing the sulfur from the reduction-oxidation process.