Iron oxides modified by semi-coke sorbents (referred to as FeSC) were prepared by the hydrothermal impregnation method and were used for the selective catalytic oxidation of H2S to sulfur. The physicochemical properties of samples were characterized by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetry (TG), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results showed that iron oxide could be highly loaded on semi-coke with a microporous structure and high specific surface area. Fe2O3 was considered the only major active component on the surface of the sorbent. Fe7SC stably maintained the catalytic performance at 180 degrees C with the longest breakthrough time and highest release sulfur capacity. There was no benefit to desulfurization with excess oxygen in the feed gas. Through further analysis by TG, elemental sulfur was confirmed to be the main product of the catalytic oxidation of H2S. Besides, a possible mechanism of H2S selective catalytic oxidation over sorbent was proposed, in which the key step was the oxidation of FeS into S-0 and Fe3+ by O-2. Moreover, sorbent deactivation was mainly caused by pore structure blockage by the sulfur product.