Zinc ferrite is a leading regenerable sorbent candidate for high- temperature desulfurization of coal gasifier gases. 3/16''extrudates of a particular zinc ferrite (T-2465) were subjected to two multicycle tests (Test 1 and Test 2) in a high pressure high-temperature bench-scale fixed-bed reactor. In both tests, simulated KRW gasifier gases were used for sulfidation. In Test 1, the sorbent was mixed with 5 weight percent coal char fines elutriated from the KRW gasifier prior to the testing. The simulated gas for this test contained 15 volume percent steam. In Test 2, the sorbent was tested without fines but in the presence of a simulated gas containing only 5 volume percent steam. Over 15 cycles during Test 1 and 5 cycles during Test 2, the sorbent consistently reduced the hydrogen sulfide (H/sub 2/S) concentration to less than 5 ppmv and exhibited no downward trend in sulfur adsorption capacity. However, the sorbent extrudates underwent considerable reduction in strength during both tests. During Test 1, crush strength of the sorbent declined from 4.1 lb/mm to 1.3 lb/mm and some decrepitation occurred. Decrepitation and strength reduction were much more severe during Test 2 as only 30% of the sorbent extrudates remained intact after 5 cycles. Carbon formation followed by sorbent-carbon interaction is believed to be the primary cause of the strength reduction. 5 refs., 9 figs., 15 tabs.