Abstract: From a gas stream, which in a process for the selective removal of sulfur-containing components is obtained periodically and in fluctuating amounts and/or with fluctuating concentrations of sulfur-containing components, the sulfur-containing components are absorbed by means of a washing agent, the washing agent loaded with the sulfur-containing components subsequently is regenerated, the sulfur-containing components separated during the regeneration are converted to sulfur, and the regenerated washing agent is recirculated to the absorption. To achieve an inflow of the washing agent loaded with sulfur-containing components to the regeneration, which is uniform in terms of time, amount and/or concentration of the sulfur-containing components, it is provided to temporarily store the loaded washing agent upon absorption.