Abstract: A process and apparatus for removing hydrogen sulfide from high pressure gas and recovering liquid sulfur, which includes reacting the H.sub.2 S with sulfite ions and an acetic acid-acid salt buffering system in an aqueous stream whereby liquid sulfur is formed, producing an effluent gas stream containing residual H.sub.2 S and an effluent aqueous stream containing the liquid sulfur, extracting the residual H.sub.2 S from the gaseous effluent stream, and using the extracted H.sub.2 S as well as H.sub.2 S recovered from the effluent aqueous stream as a source of sulfite ions for circulation to the reaction step, and as a source for additional liquid and solid sulfur. Apparatus and methods are also disclosed for recovering solid sulfur from a gaseous stream containing gaseous sulfur by contacting the gaseous stream with sulfur particles in a fluidized bed.