Abstract: Catalytic process for reacting a sulphur-containing material such as elemental sulphur or hydrogen sulphide with an oxygen-containing gas to produce sulphur dioxide. The process and apparatus can be used to remove hydrogen sulphide from a gas. The process and apparatus may also be used to produce sulphur dioxide as a product which may be converted to SO.sub.3 and used, for example, to produce sulphuric acid.

Abstract: A process is provided for producing elemental sulphur from a hydrogen sulphide and sulphur dioxide containing gas stream by a Claus type of catalytic reaction. The process is based on the discovery that the conventional Claus catalyst, in the presence of liquid sulphur and at pressures considerably greater than one atmosphere, is significantly active toward the Claus catalytic reaction. Thus, in accordance with the invention, increasing the pressure of the reaction in the presence of liquid sulphur increases both the catalytic activity and the elemental sulphur conversion. The process involves introducing a compressed hydrogen sulphide and sulphur dioxide containing gas stream into a catalytic reactor and reacting the gases in a Claus catalyst bed in the reactor to produce elemental sulphur under conditions of temperature and pressure such that water in the reactor exists only as water vapor and sulphur vapor is condensed in the catalyst bed, being removed therefrom as a liquid.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for the in situ melting and removal of liquid sulphur from a solid sulphur storage block. The method comprises supplying heat to the storage block sufficient to melt the sulphur of the storage block to produce liquid sulphur, collecting the liquid sulphur and removing the liquid sulphur. The apparatus comprises heating means for heating and melting the sulphur storage block to produce liquid sulphur, means for collecting the liquid sulphur and means for removing the liquid sulphur from the collecting means.