Process for the desulfurization of waste gases

A process for removing sulfur pollutants from a gas stream having hydrogen sulfide as its principal sulfur containing constituent, which process comprises:

• (a) introducing said stream into a first zone together with molecular oxygen in an amount sufficient to oxidize the sulfur containing constituents of said stream to sulfur oxides;
• (b) in said first zone contacting said stream and molecular oxygen with a hydrocarbon cracking catalyst having associated therewith a metal oxide absorbent capable of absorbing sulfur oxides and absorbing sulfur oxides with said absorbent;
• (c) in a second zone contacting said hydrocarbon cracking catalyst and absorbent with a hydrocarbon vapor at an elevated temperature to crack the hydrocarbon and convert the absorbed sulfur constituents to inorganic sulfur compounds;
• (d) introducing steam into said second zone to hydrolyze said inorganic sulfur compounds to hydrogen sulfide;
• (e) separating the thus formed hydrogen sulfide and converting a major proportion thereof to elemental sulfur;
• and
• (f) recycling the unconverted hydrogen sulfide to said first zone.