Sulfur recovery from gases rich in H/sub 2/S and CO/sub 2/ as well as COS or organic sulfur

A method is presented for recovery of sulfur by the Claus process from hydrogen sulfide-containing gases, in which process residual sulfur compounds in the Clauss off-gas are reduced to hydrogen sulfide which is selectively absorbed, recovered and recycled to the Claus reaction. The process is adapted for conversion of feed gas which is high in CO/sub 2/ and which also contains significant amounts of COS and/or organic sulfur compounds by having such fresh feed gas bypass the Claus reactor and combining it with the Claus off gas ahead of the reduction step.