Sulfuric acid

Dr Hemlata Karne
Sulfur Industries

1) Sulfur

2) Sulfuric Acid

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World Production of Sulfuric Acid
World Supply / Demand for Sulfuric Acid
(thousands of metric tons, 100% H2SO4)
Sulfuric Acid uses
Acid Strengths

Associated End Uses

Sulfuric Acid
Classification of processes

1) Contact process

2) Chamber process

Contact Sulfuric Acid Process

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Contact Process
✔ Air – SO2 gas containing 7-10%
SO2 and 11-14 % O2 is preheated
by converter gas

✔ Sent to first stage reactors

✔ Temperature – 500-600 C,
Contains 30 % of total catalyst

✔ Converts about 80% of SO2

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Contact Process

✔ The converter product is cooled

to 300C

✔ Fed to a second stage,

temperature – 400-450C

✔ Yield-97%

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Contact Process
✔ High yield product gases are
cooled at 150C by water and air
heat exchangers

✔ Product gas absorbed in oleum

fed at a rate to allow not over a
1% rise in acid strength

✔ Final scrubbing is done with a

lower strength (97%) acid

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Contact Process

✔ Oleum concentrations up to 40%

can be made by tower absorption

✔ Higher strength oleum up to 65%

is prepared by distilling 20%
oleum

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