Abstract: A process for removing sulphur dioxide from the gaseous effluent of a smelter furnace comprising the steps of: providing the gaseous effluent from a smelter; separating the sulphur dioxide from the gaseous effluent to provide concentrated sulphur dioxide and effluent for discharge into the atmosphere; mixing the concentrated sulphur dioxide with a fuel gas; heating the mixture such that the concentrated sulphur dioxide and fuel gas react to form a gaseous product mixture comprising sulphur and hydrogen sulphide; and removing the majority of preferably substantially all of the sulphur and hydrogen sulphide from the gaseous product mixture; wherein the remaining gaseous product mixture is incinerated before being vented into the atmosphere or is recycled into the smelter furnace.