Removal of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) from coal gases and sulfur recovery as elemental sulfur are key steps in the development of advanced syngas plants that produce electric power, clean transportation fuels, and hydrogen for fuel cells by gasifying coal, natural gas, bio-mass, and waste matter. The conventional method of sulfur removal and recovery employing amine scrubbing, Claus, and tail-gas treatment involves a number of steps and is energy intensive. A novel process called Single-Step Sulfur Recovery Process (SSRP) is under development at various research groups. In this process, the H2S in a coal gas is selectively oxidized in a single step to elemental sulfur using sulfur dioxide (SO2) or oxygen (O2) in the presence of alumina-based catalyst pellets in a packed/fluidized bed. A honeycomb monolithic catalyst reactor (MCR) for the development of a single-step sulfur recovery process is used to remove H2S from a simulated coal gas in this study. Sulfur dioxide is used as an oxidizer to convert H2S into liquid element sulfur. A honeycomb monolith catalyst support is made of cordierite wash-coated with ƒ×-alumina. Monolithic catalysts are formulated by impregnating promising catalytic metals into ƒ×-alumina wash-coated monolithic catalyst supports. Performances of honeycomb ƒ×-alumina wash-coated monolithic catalyst supports and formulated monolithic catalysts are presented in terms of H2S removal and selectivity of COS formation at various reactor operation conditions. The objectives of this research are to formulate monolithic catalysts with honeycomb ƒ× -alumina wash-coated monolithic catalyst supports and catalytic metal promoters for removal of H2S from coal gases and minimum formation of COS, and to measure kinetics of both direct oxidation of H2S to elemental sulfur with SO2 as an oxidizer and selective formation of COS in the presence of a simulated coal gas mixture containing H2, CO, CO2, and moisture in a honeycomb monolithic catalyst reactor.