Abstract: Disclosed is a method for treating a gas stream rich in hydrogen sulfide by providing one or more feed gas streams rich in hydrogen sulfide into a Claus reaction furnace, providing air into the Claus reaction furnace, providing supplemental oxygen into the Claus reaction furnace, and providing steam to the Claus reaction furnace, where the steam is in addition to any steam that may be present in gases that are recycled to the Claus reaction furnace. The components are then reacted at a temperature above about 2400° F. and at a pressure sufficient to cause hydrogen sulfide to be converted into sulfur.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for degassing liquid sulfur under pressure. A stream of liquid sulfur containing polysulfides and hydrogen sulfide and a stream of an oxidizing gas are introduced into a vessel and intimately mixed to provide intimate contact between the two streams. The streams are passed through the vessel at a pressure of at least about 40 psig and at a temperature and for a residence time sufficient to remove substantially all of the polysulfides and hydrogen sulfide from the liquid sulfur.