High temperature desulfurization processes being developed by METC involve the use of regenerable mixed metal compounds such as zinc ferrite for efficient removal of reduced sulfur compounds from coal gasifier gases. Regeneration of these sorbents is carried out by an air/diluent mixture containing low concentrations (1--3%) of oxygen and results in an off-gas stream containing low concentrations (1--3%) of SO{sub 2}. The concepts addressed in this project involve the use of regenerable alkali metal based sorbents for elemental sulfur recovery from these regeneration off-gases at elevated temperature and pressure. In one concept, the SO{sub 2} in the off-gas is adsorbed onto the sorbent at 550{degree}C--700{degree}C. The sulfated sorbent is then regenerated using a reducing gas to produce an H{sub 2}S-rich gas suitable for Claus sulfur recovery. In the other concept, a near stoichiometric mixture of the off-gas and reducing gas is reacted at 550{degree}C--700{degree}C across the Na/Al sorbent to yield elemental sulfur directly in one step. Commercial application of the concepts would involve the use of elevated pressures which would match the pressure of the coal gasifier. 21 refs., 33 figs., 19 tabs.