A vertically oriented sulfur condenser may employ a plurality of condenser tubes arranged longitudinally within an exterior casing, a liquid sulfur reservoir at a longitudinal end of the sulfur condenser, and a condenser tube wall of at least one of the plurality of condenser tubes that protrudes into and below a liquid sulfur reservoir. A catalyst may be located within the liquid sulfur reservoir. A liquid sulfur outlet may be located at the liquid sulfur surface. A Claus process gas inlet may be proximate a first end of the plurality of condenser tubes. A first tube sheet may connect to and seal an end of the plurality of condenser tubes proximate a first end of the plurality of condenser tubes. A second tube sheet may connect to and seals with the plurality of condenser tubes and the exterior casing proximate a second end of the plurality of condenser tubes.

A horizontal sulfur condenser may include an exterior casing with a plurality of condenser tubes arranged longitudinally within the casing, a liquid sulfur reservoir at a longitudinal end within the exterior casing, and an internal baffle that protrudes into the liquid sulfur reservoir from the surface. The lowest of the plurality of condenser tubes is parallel to a wall of the exterior casing. A Claus process gas inlet is proximate a first end of the plurality of condenser tubes, which are arranged horizontally but are positioned vertically above the sulfur reservoir. A liquid sulfur outlet is located at the liquid sulfur surface. The baffle creates multiple chambers above the sulfur reservoir, such as a first chamber defined by the exterior casing and the baffle to receive condensed Claus sulfur in the liquid reservoir, and a second chamber defined by the exterior casing and the baffle to receive degassed liquid sulfur.

A process for removing sulfur from a gas containing sulfur compounds as H2S, SO2, COS, CS2 . . . , in a quantity of up to 15% wt; particularly gases emanating from the Claus process: A first hydrogenation of the sulfur compounds into H2S, the hydrogenation gas being used to regenerate a deactivated bed of oxidation catalyst, both being carried out at 200-500 C. After sulfur removal, the resulting gas undergoes a second hydrogenation step and then a direct oxidation step, said step being operated under the dew point of sulfur to trap the formed sulfur in the catalyst. In the further cycle, the gas streams are switched so as to regenerate the catalyst in run which is deactivated.