Abstract: A process for reacting the H.sub.2 S in H.sub.2 S-bearing gas streams with SO.sub.2 in a solvent to produce elemental sulfur, including the steps of oxidizing approximately 1/3 of the H.sub.2 S in the stream to SO.sub.2, absorbing that SO.sub.2 with a dialkyl alkyl phosphonate absorbent and reacting that SO.sub.2 with the remaining H.sub.2 S from the stream in the presence of the phosphonate solvent, thereby forming elemental sulfur and water.

Abstract: Method for separating clods and the like from potatoes, which includes placing the clods and potatoes on a first belt for transporting the potatoes and clods toward a forward end and positioning a second belt spaced horizontally apart from and vertically lower than the end of the first belt such that potatoes leaving the end travel through the air and land on the second belt. The clods are detected by a detector that includes a magnet and a coil positioned in the field of the magnet. The clods are removed from the system by a normally flaccid inflatable finger positioned between the forward end of the first belt and the second belt. When the detector signals the presence of a clod, air is supplied to the finger causing the stiffening thereof, which deflects the trajectory of the clod causing it to fall between the forward end and the second belt.