Process for removing sulfur particles from an aqueous catalyst solution and for removing hydrogen sulfide and recovering sulfur from a gas stream

A process for removing hydrogen sulfide and recovering sulfur from a gas stream, comprising the steps of:

• contacting said gas stream with an aqueous catalyst solution of a polyvalent metal redox catalyst in a contacting zone to absorb said hydrogen sulfide and form a reduced catalyst solution comprising reduced polyvalent metal redox catalyst and sulfur particles;
• oxidizing said reduced catalyst solution in a separate oxidizer zone while removing sulfur particles to form said oxidized aqueous catalyst solution comprising polyvalent metal redox catalyst in an oxidized state with sulfur particles removed;
• and
• recovering sulfur by transferring at least one of said sulfur particles and foam generated on a top surface of a liquid phase in said oxidizer zone to a separate coalescer and removing sulfur particles having settled in a separation zone of said coalescer;
• wherein
• a coagulating reagent is added to a feed of said coalescer prior to entering said coalescer to promote settlement of sulfur particles.