Abstract: In accordance with the invention sulfur dioxide in sulfur dioxide-containing gases is converted under selective conditions to provide elemental sulfur in an efficient and economically-acceptable manner for present day industrial operations. The conversion involves the thermal reduction of sulfur dioxide in a zone at relatively moderate temperatures maintained by the combustion of carbonaceous fuel in the zone to provide elemental sulfur and to provide a gaseous thermal reduction effluent which is acceptable for further processing to recover additional sulfur values therefrom.