said first sterically hindered amine to said second sterically hindered amine that is in the range of from 2.5:1 to 8:1. 

12. An absorbent composition as recited in claim 11, wherein said aqueous solvent is present in said absorbent composition in an amount in the range of from 85 wt. % to 97 .5 wt. %, wherein said average molecular weight of said PEG mixture is in the range of from 180 to 400, and wherein said organic co-solvent present in said absorbent composition is in an amount in the range of from 2.5 wt.% to 15 wt.%. 

13. A process for the selective removal of hydrogen sulfide from a gas stream, comprising H$_{2}$S and CO$_{2}$ , wherein said process comprises: 

contacting said gas stream with an absorbent composition under selective absorption conditions for the removal of H$_{2}$S from said gas stream, wherein said absorbent com› position comprises (a) from 75 wt. % to 98.5 wt. %, based on the total weight of said absorbent composition, of an aqueous solvent; and (b) upwardly to 5 wt. %, based on the total weight of said absorbent composition, of a strong acid, wherein said aqueous solvent comprises from 20 wt. % to 70 wt. %, based on the total weight of said aqueous solvent, of an amination reaction product of a polydispersed polyethylene glycol (PEG) mixture having an average molecular weight that is in the range of from 180to l000andt-butylamine, andfrom30wt. % to 80 wt. % water, based on the total weight of said aqueous solvent; and 

yielding a treated gas stream having a reduced concentra› tion ofH$_{2}$S. 

14. A process as recited in claim 13, wherein said strong acid is selected from the group of acids consisting of perchlo› ric acid (HC1O$_{4}$ ), hydroiodic acid (HI), hydrobromic acid (HBr), hydrochloric acid (HCl), sulfuric acid (H$_{2}$ SO$_{4}$ ), and nitric acid (HNO$_{3}$ ). 

15.A process as recited in claim 14, wherein said absorbent composition further comprises an organic co-solvent selected from the group consisting of sulfones, sulfone derivatives, and sulfoxides. 

16. A process as recited in claim 15, wherein said organic co-solvent is present in said absorbent composition in an amount upwardly to about 10 wt.% of the total weight of said absorbent composition. 

17. A process as recited in claim 16, wherein said aqueous solvent is present in said absorbent composition in an amount in the range of from 85 wt. % to 98.5 wt. %; wherein said strong acid is present in said absorbent composition in an amount in the range of from 1.5 wt.% to 5 wt.%; and wherein said organic co-solvent is present in said absorbent composi› tion in an amount in the range of from about 1 wt. % to about 8 wt.%. 

18. A process as recited in claim 17, wherein said amina› tion reaction product further comprises at least a first steri› cally hindered amine and a second sterically hindered amine. 

19. A process as recited in claim 18, wherein said strong acid is sulfuric acid. 

20. A process as recited in claim 19, wherein said PEG mixture comprises polyethylene glycols of the formula HOCHiCH$_{2}$OCH$_{2}$)nCH$_{2}$OH, wherein n is an integer selected from values in the range of from 1 to 24. 

21. A process as recited in claim 20, wherein said first sterically hindered amine is selected from the group of amine compounds of the formula: 

(CH$_{3}$ ) $_{3}$CNH(CH$_{2}$CH$_{2}$O)xCH$_{2}$CH$_{2}$NHC(CH$_{3}$ ) 3 , whereinx is an integer in the range of from 2 to 16; and 

wherein said second sterically hindered amine is selected from the group of amine compounds having the follow› ing formula: 

(CH$_{3}$ ) $_{3}$CNH(CH$_{2}$CH$_{2}$O)xCH$_{2}$CH$_{2}$OH, wherein x is an integer in the range of from 2 to 16. 

22. A process as recited in claim 21, wherein said amina› tion reaction product has a weight ratio of said first sterically hindered amine to said second sterically hindered amine that is in the range upwardly to 10: 1. 

23. A process as recited in claim 22, wherein said amina› tion reaction product has a weight ratio of said first sterically hindered amine to said second sterically hindered amine that is in the range of from 2.5: 1 to 8: 1. 

24. A process as recited in claim 23, wherein said aqueous solvent is present in said absorbent composition in an amount in the range of from 85 wt.% to 97.5 wt.%, wherein said average molecular weight of said PEG mixture is in the range of from 180 to 400, and wherein said organic co-solvent present in said absorbent composition is in an amount in the range of from 2.5 wt.% to 15 wt.%. 

* * * * * 

