An iron oxide solid sponge H2S adsorbent works by reacting H2S and turning ferric oxide into ferric sulfide. The ferric sulfide will be converted back into ferric oxide and elemental sulfur when contacting oxygen or air. This study investigates the leaching of elemental sulfur from the solid sponge using anhydrous liquid ammonia as solvent. The leaching treatment expectedly results in effective regeneration of the adsorbent, which is able to lead to a sulfur removal and recovery process suitable for handling the small and mid-sized sulfur production cases, i.e., those less than 10 ton/day sulfur. The leaching does not significantly impair the physical properties, including the adsorbent pellet strength. The adsorption-regeneration (or leaching) cycle could be repeated at least three times. The cumulative sulfur loading can achieve as high as 50% (w/w), three times greater than that in the one-time use. The wash-off in leaching and the spent adsorbent can be made into slurry that is to be injected into underground formations such as depleted oil wells. It is anticipated that this underground injection is safer and more efficient than acid gas injection. (C) 2008 The institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.