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.