A kinetic study of two mixed-metal oxide sorbents (zinc ferrite and zinc titanate) was conducted to obtain kinetic data at the temperatures and pressures typically encountered in coal gasifiers. These sorbents are used to remove H/sub 2/S from the hot coal- derived gases and can be subsequently regenerated for use in a cyclical operation. The qualitative behavior of zinc titanate was found to be quite similar. Sulfidation kinetic rate increased with H/sub 2/S concentration, slightly increased with temperature, increased with pressure at a constant H/sub 2/S mol fraction with pressure at a constant H/sub 2/S partial pressure, and increased with decreasing pellet diameter. The regeneration rates of both zinc ferrite and zinc titanate increased with temperature, O/sub 2/ concentration, and pressure at a constant O/sub 2/ mole fraction. The formation of zinc sulfate was found to be significant during regeneration of zinc ferrite at sufficiently low temperatures, high pressures, and high O/sub 2/ concentrations. Reducing gas concentrations of 65-75% (H/sub 2/ CO) simulating the output from the Texaco gasifier operated in the oxygen-blown mode were used to assess the impact on sorbent performance. The shrinking core kinetic model was found to fit the experimental data very well. Correlations were made using a priori estimates of all parameters including diffusivity and mass transfer coefficients. Quantitative agreement was best obtained by treating the diffusivity term and/or the mass transfer term as best fit parameters. 22 refs., 69 figs., 18 tabs.