Provided is an improved process for removing sulfur compounds from sulfur contaminated fluid streams by contacting such fluid streams with an absorbent composition comprising zinc oxide, silica, and molybdenum disulfide. The absorbent composition comprising zinc oxide, silica, and molybdenum disulfide is a novel composition which has the desirable properties of high sulfur loading capacity and the ability to be contacted with the hydrogen sulfide containing fluid stream for the removal of such hydrogen sulfide from said fluid stream with a minimum amount of sulfur dioxide slippage. An additional embodiment of the disclosed invention includes a method for minimizing the amount of extrusion die wear during the production of the zinc oxide based absorbent compositions. Extrusion die wear is reduced by adding a quantity of molybdenum disulfide to the zinc oxide absorbent in an amount which provides desirable lubricating properties such that extrusion die wear is reduced during the manufacture of the composition.