Method for removing sulfides from industrial gas

A process for removing a sulfide from a moist or dry gas stream containing a sulfide which comprises contacting the gas stream with a sorbent solution for a time sufficient to sorb a desired quantity of the sulfide from the gas stream, the sorbent solution containing at least 0.1 weight percent, based on the solvent, of an aromatic nitrile containing an electron-attracting substituent on the aromatic ring, said substituent having an attraction for electrons which is at least as strong as that of a halogen substituent, said solution further containing an effective catalytic amount of an organic tertiary amine, a mixture of organic tertiary amines, or a hydrosulfide derivative thereof, the amount of said tertiary amine present being at least 0.01 gram mol per gram equivalent of the nitrile, the solvent of said sorbent solution being an inert liquid solvent;

• separating the resulting sulfide-enriched solution from the resulting sulfide-reduced gaseous mixture;
• heating the sulfide-enriched solution to regeneration temperature;
• and recovering separately regenerated sorbent solution and sulfide product.