LaMeOx/SBA-15 (Me=Zn, Co and Fe) desulfurizers were synthesized by a sol–gel method and their performance for H2S removal from hot coal gas was investigated. The results of eight successive desulfidation–regeneration cycles revealed that the LaFeO3/SBA-15 desulfurizer shows high performance and stability for H2S removal. The results of BET, XPS, HRTEM and XRD characterization suggested that the SBA-15 structure of used LaMeOx/SBA-15 remained intact. It was found that there is only partial reduction of Fe3+ ions in LaFeO3/SBA-15 by hydrogen in hot coal gas, a factor considered to be favorable for LaFeO3/SBA-15 sulfidation. The metal oxides supported on SBA-15 can effectively suppress mechanical disintegration and improve stability of LaMeOx/SBA-15. Among the three desulfurizers, LaFeO3/SBA-15 performs the best.