Abstract: A sulfur dioxide containing gas stream is purified by passage through an absorber containing an aqueous absorption solution for sulfur dioxide. Sulfur dioxide-laden aqueous absorption solution is continuously removed from the absorber. Approximately one-third is passed to a sulfur production zone. The balance of the solution is passed to a sulfur dioxide stripping zone where the sulfur dioxide is separated from the absorption solution which is returned to the absorber. The extracted sulfur dioxide is catalytically hydrogenated to hydrogen sulfide which is passed to the sulfur production zone for reaction with sulfur dioxide to form elemental sulfur. After the formation of elemental sulfur, the balance of the aqueous absorption solution essentially free of sulfur dioxide is returned to the absorber.