This invention is addressed to a method of catalytic treatment of residual gases containing various compounds of sulphur, particularly hydrolyzable compounds of sulphur by the Claus reaction.These residual gases, at the expense of which all or part of the necessary amount of sulphurous anhydride is formed, are treated at temperatures above 200.degree.C in the presence of catalysts comprising active alumina and one or more oxides, sulphides or compounds capable of being sulphurized, of molybdenum, cobalt, nickel, iron and uranium.