Abstract: A process is provided for removing hydrogen sulfide out of a gas, such as natural gas. The hydrogen sulfide contaminated gas is contacted with a catalytic aqueous solution containing a polyvalent metal chelating agent under conditions in which the hydrogen sulfide is oxidized into elemental sulfur and the polyvalent metal chelating agent is reduced to a lower oxidation state, and the treated gas is recovered. The solution containing the polyvalent metal chelating agent and the elemental sulfur is filtered at a pressure of at least 1 Mpascals. At least a portion of the filtered solution containing the polyvalent metal chelating agent is degassed and/or depressurized for the removal of components such as light hydrocarbons and carbon dioxide; contacted with an oxidizing agent and recycled back to the hydrogen sulfide removal step. By filtering the sulfur out of the solution at a pressure of at least 1 Mpascal, foam formation and clogging problems can be avoided.