Shell Oil Comapny

Heinz-Gerhard A Kock

Willem Groenendaal

Philippus Loof

An improved Claus off-gas treating process is disclosed where sulfur dioxide and other convertible sulfur compounds present in the off-gas are catalytically reduced to hydrogen sulfide by mixing said off-gases with the hot gaseous product of the combustion of a carbonaceous fuel with an oxygen-containing gas in a line burner to heat the off-gases to a temperature above 175.degree.C and passing the heated gaseous product together with a hydrogen-containing gas over a reduction catalyst thereby converting substantially all of the sulfur dioxide and other convertible sulfur compounds present to hydrogen sulfide which is subsequently removed with an absorbent or absorbent for hydrogen sulfide. The improvement comprises introducing hydrogen-containing gas required in the catalytic reduction step directly into the line burner at a point where the temperature of the gaseous product of combustion is sufficiently high to support spontaneous combustion between the hydrogen so introduced and any excess oxygen which may be present in the combustion product.

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The Hague, Netherlands

Heinz-Gerhard A Kock