Process for reducing total sulfur content of claus off-gases

In a process for decreasing the total sulfur content of off-gases from a Claus process wherein the sulfur dioxidecontaining off-gases are heated to a temperature in excess of about 175.degree.C by mixing with the hot gaseous product of the combustion of a carbonaceous fuel with an oxygen-containing gas in a line burner, and the Claus off-gases, so heated, are passed together with a hydrogen-containing gas over a reduction catalyst at a temperature above 175.degree.C to reduce the sulfur dioxide and other convertible sulfur compounds present to hydrogen sulfide followed by removal of the hydrogen sulfide from the gaseous stream by adsorption on an absorbent or adsorbent for hydrogen sulfide, the improvement which comprises;

• introducing hydrogen-containing gas in a quantity which is required to convert at least 10 percent of the oxygen in the oxygen-containing gas supplied to the line burner directly into the line burner at a point where the temperature of the gaseous product of combustion is sufficiently high to support spontaneous combustion between the hydrogen and excess oxygen present in the combustion product.