hydrogen sulfide removal for the greater part in the column with contacting trays and by removing the balance in venturi scrubbers with a relatively small amount of solvent which may have a different temperature nature and composition after the absorption step the unabsorbed part of the off gases which now consists mainly of nitrogen and carbon dioxide in addition to very small amounts of hydrogen and traces of hydrogen sulfide is discharged into the atmosphere if desired this unabsorbed portion may also be incinerated in the usual manner before passing it to the stack the hydrogen sulfide loaded or enriched absorbent emanating from the reduced claus off gas absorption step generally contains about 0 5 to about 1 5 w hydrogen sulfide based on total solution weight as indicated above the improvement contemplated by the instant invention in basic terms involves increasing the hydrogen sulfide content of this loaded or enriched absorbent by contacting it with a stream which contains hydrogen sulfide at a higher partial pressure than that of the reduced claus off gases treated before the enriched absorbent is regenerated rather than passing the enriched absorbent directly to regeneration as was contemplated by the basic process although the hydrogen sulfide enriched absorbent may be contacted with any stream from which.