TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Process:At least three layers are present on the surface of the monolith carrier and the layers have a total thickness of at least 3.5 g/in3 of the carrier.The sorber comprises at least one metal compound, where the metal is from zinc, calcium, nickel, iron and/or copper. Preferably the metal is zinc and the compound is zinc oxide or zinc titanate.The initial concentration of H2S in the gas stream prior to contact with the sorber is 0.15-25 (preferably 0.25-10) ppm and the stream is passed into contact with the sorber at a volumetric hourly rate of 500-100,000 (preferably 2,500-15,000) volumes per volume of carrier.The H2S content of the gas stream after contact with the sorber is reduced to less than 100 (preferably less than 50) ppb for at least 1 hour.The sorber is present on the surface of the monolith carrier in the form of particles having an average particle size of 90% less than 10 microns. EXAMPLE - A cordierite cylindrical monolith carrier (0.75 inch diameter; 1.5 inch length; 400 channels/in2) was placed in a quartz tube (1 inch diameter) using ceramic insulation to secure the sample in place. The carrier was placed in a reactor, brought to a temperature of 400degreesC and a stream of N2 was then passed over. The composition of the stream was then changed to hydrogen (40 vol.%), nitrogen (60 vol%) and water vapor (15 vol%). The signal from a hydrogen sulfide-specific analyzer was then set as the zero value.    Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) (8 ppm) was then introduced into the stream and the H2S-enriched was passed through the sample and a measurement of the outlet gas concentration was periodically taken. When evidence of an increase of H2S in the outlet gas was observed, the monolith carrier lifetime was recorded, and the gas stream was switched from the reactor to a bypass line. The inlet H2S concentration was then reduced to 1 ppm by volume (for instrument validation).    Comparisons were made of the zinc oxide layer thickness on the carrier versus 'breakthrough' time (measured at the point that the concentration of H2S in the outlet stream measured more than 50 ppb by volume). For zinc oxide layer thicknesses of 2.1, 2.6, 3.7, 3.9 and 5.1 g/in3, the breakthrough time was 1.75, 2.0, 8.1, 8.4 and 9.0 hours respectively.