In this work, 4A molecular sieve zeolite was synthesized from attapulgite (ATP) in different conditions and was applied initially for H2S removal. The sorbent was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectra and N-2 adsorption/desorption. The effects of the synthesis condition and adsorption temperature were studied by dynamic adsorption experiment. The optimal adsorption temperature is 50 degrees C. The H2S adsorption results have showed that the optimal synthesis conditions are as follows: the ratio of silicon to aluminum and ratio of sodium to silicon are both 1.5, the ratio of water to sodium is 30, crystallization temperature and crystallization time is 90 degrees C, 4h, respectively. The breakthrough and saturation sulfur sorption capacities of zeolite synthesized under optimum conditions are up to nearly 10 and 15 mg/g-sorbent, respectively, and the H2S removal rate is nearly 100%. The adsorption kinetics nonlinear fitting results show that the adsorption system follows Bingham model. These results indicate that 4A molecular sieve zeolite synthesized from attapulgite can be used for H2S removal promisingly. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.