In this study, Claus reaction was applied for the selective removal of H(2)S contained in the gasified coal gas, and the characteristics of Claus reaction over the Ce-based catalysts were investigated to propose the reaction mechanism. The Ce-based catalysts showed a high activity on Claus reaction. Specially, Ce(0.8)Zr(0.2)O(2) catalyst had a higher activity than CeO. On the basis of our experimental results, it was proposed that the selective oxidation of H(2)S was carried out by the lattice oxygen in the Ce-based catalysts and that the reduction of SO(2) was performed by the lattice oxygen vacancy in the reduced catalyst. Since the mobility of the lattice oxygen in Ce(0.8)Zr(0.2)O(2) composite catalyst was better than the one in CeO(2), Ce(0.8)Zr(0.2)O(2) provided more lattice oxygen for the selective oxidation of H(2)S. It was presumed that the reaction mechanism to convert H(2)S and SO(2) into elemental sulphur over our prepared catalysts was different from the mechanism over the solid-acid catalysts. It is believed that Claus reaction over the Ce-based catalysts was carried out by the redox mechanism. Since the moisture was contained in the major components, CO and H, of the gasified fuel gas, the effects of CO and H(2)O on the catalytic reaction were investigated over a Ce-based catalyst. The conversion of H(2)S and SO(2) was decreased in Claus reaction over the Ce-based catalysts as the concentration of either H(2)O or CO in the gasified coal gas was increased. Under the circumstances of the coexistence of both moisture and CO, however, the conversion was increased as the concentration of CO was increased. The reactivity of Claus reaction was varied in terms of the concentration ratio of CO to H(2)O. The maximum conversion of H(2)S and SO(2) was achieved in the condition of that the concentration of CO contained in the reacting gas was higher than the one of H(2)O. The conversions of H(2)S and SO(2) did not match to the stoichiometric ratios of Claus reaction. The higher conversion of H(2)S was obtained in the higher concentration of H(2)O, while the higher conversion of SO(2) was achieved in the higher concentration of CO. It was another evidence to indicate that the Claus reaction over the Ce-based catalysts was carried out by the redox mechanism. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.