A novel dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) reactor was applied for removal of H2S. Activated carbon fiber (ACF) and a photocatalytic electrode prepared from sintered metal fibers (SMF) were introduced into the novel reactor. H2S removal rate was enhanced dramatically due to the synergism between DBD and ACF. Peak voltage, initial concentration, resident time and humidity were important factors that influenced the H2S removal rate. 75 mg/m(3) H2S removal rate reached 99.9% at a peak voltage of 25 kV and with a resident time of 2 s in the novel reactor. Humidity had an inhibition to H2S decomposition at low peak voltages. And the inhibition became slight at high peak voltages (>20 kV). The novel reactor exhibited better by-products (SO2 and O-3) control than other reactors did. And it also had excellent performance stabilization in a long-term operation (30 d). (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.