Process of reducing sulphur dioxide to elemental sulphur

Claim 1

THE PROCESS OF REDUCING SULPHUR DIOXIDE TO SULPHUR COMPRISING REACTING SULPHUR DIOXIDE WITH A GASEOUS HYDROCARBON IN THE PRESENCE OF A CATALYST SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF ACTIVATED ALUMINA, BAUXITE, CALCIUM SULPHIDE AND QUARTZ TO PRODUCE ELEMENTAL SULPHUR AND A GASEOUS MIXTURE COMPRISING HYDROGEN SULPHIDE, CARBONYL SULPHIDE, CARBON DISULPHIDE AND SULPHUR DIOXIDE WITH A MOL RATIO OF SULPHUR COMPOUNDS OTHER THAN SULPHUR DIOXIDE TO SULPHUR DIOXIDE OF ABOUT 2:1 AND DURING SAID REACTION MAINTAINING THE TEMPERATURE BELOW 1000*C., COOLING SAID GASES TO ABOUT 390*C. AND CONTACTING THEM WITH A CATALYST TO THEREBY REACT THE CARBONYL SULPHIDE AND CARBON DISULPHIDE WITH SULPHUR DIOXIDE TO PRODUCE ADDITIONAL SULPHUR, THEREAFTER COOLING TO ABOUT 125*C. TO CONDENSE THE FREE SULPHUR AND SEPARATING THE SAME TO LEAVE HYDROGEN SULPHIDE AND SULPHIDE DIOXIDE IN APPROXIMATELY A 2:1 MOL RATIO, THEREAFTER HEATING THE REMAINING GAS IN THE PRESENCE OF A CATALYST TO FROM 200 TO 275* C. TO REACT THE REMAINING HYDROGEN SULPHIDE AND SULPHUR DIOXIDE AND THEREAFTER COOLING TO ABOUT 125*C. TO CONDENSE THE SULPHUR AND SEPARATING THE SAME.