Sulfuric Acid Presentation

 KORI–ANN HERMITT
 SHANAE HARRIOTT
 ABIGAIL JACKSON
 RENEE HENNY
 Contact Process
 The manufacture of sulfuric acid has three steps:

• Making Sulfur Dioxide

• Converting Sulfur Dioxide to Sulfur Trioxide
• Making Sulfuric Acid from Sulfur Trioxide
 Contact Process
Sulfur
Dioxide
Temp: 450 ˚C
Pressure: 1 atm
Catalyst : V2O5
Oxygen Unreacted
from air gases recycled

Sulfur Trioxide
Used in
manufacture of
sulfuric acid
 Contact Process

PRODUCTION OF SULFUR DIOXIDE

• FROM THE BURNING OF SULFUR
S8 (S) + 8 02 (G) 8 SO2 (G)
S (S) + O2 (G) SO2 (G)

PRODUCTION OF SULFUR TRIOXIDE

THE SULFUR IS THEN COMBINED WITH PURE OXYGEN IN THE
PRESENCE OF A VANADIUM PENTOXIDE CATALYST AT 400 – 450 ˚ AND
1-2 ATM.
 Contact Process

Optimum Conditions for Conditions Used

Maximum Yield
Temperature Low 400 - 450˚
Pressure High 1 – 2 atm
Catalysis V2O5 V2O5

Other
 Temperature
2 SO2 (G) + O2 (G) 2SO3 (G) Δ H = -197 KJMOL-1

SINCE THE FORWARD REACTION IS EXOTHERMIC, A HIGH YIELD IS

FORWARD BY A LOW TEMPERATURE.
A DECREASE IN TEMPERATURE SHIFTS THE EQUILIBRIUM TO THE
RIGHT INCREASING THE CONCENTRATION OF SO3 PRESENT AT
EQUILIBRIUM.
A LOWER TEMPERATURE HOWEVER, DECREASES THE RATE AT
WHICH EQUILIBRIUM IS ACHIEVED.
THEREFORE A MODERATE TEMPERATURE OF 400 - 450˚ IS USED.
 Pressure
2 SO3 (G) + O2 (G) SO3 (G) Δ H = -197 KJMOL-1

A HIGH YIELD IS FAVOURED BY A HIGH PRESSURE, (2 MOL OF GAS ON

RIGHT VS 4MOL OF GAS ON LEFT)
INCREASING THE PRESSURE SHIFTS THE EQUILIBRIUM TO THE RIGHT,
I,.E. THE SIDE WITH THE FEWER NUMBER OF MOLES OF GAS.
A HIGHER PRESSURE ALSO INCREASES THE PRODUCTION COST, AS
THICKER PIPES, VESSELS ETC. WILL BE REQUIRED.
DUE TO THE HIGH EFFICIENCY OF THE CATALYST EMPLOYED, THE
REACTION CAN BE CARRIED OUT AT LOW PRESSURES.
AS A RESULT A PRESSURE OF A – Z ATM IS USED.
Manufacture of H2SO4
THE SO3 IS DISSOLVED IN CONCENTRATED SULFURIC ACID TO
PRODUCE OLEUM.
SO3 (G) + H2SO4 (L) H2S2O7 (L)
THE OLEUM IS THEN DISSOLVED IN WATER TO PRODUCE
CONCENTRATED SULFURIC ACID.
H2S2O7 (L) + H2O (L) H2SO4 (L)
 Uses of Sulfur
 MOST SULFUR IS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SULFURIC
ACID.

 NEUTRALIZATION OF RUBBER

 FUNGICIDE

 GUNPOWDER
 Uses of Sulfuric Acid
 USED TOMAKE PHOSPHATE FERTILIZERS AND AMMONIUM SULFATE
FERTILIZER.
 USED TO
MAKE ACIDS SUCH AS PHOSPHORIC ACID, NITRIC ACID AND
HYDROCHLORIC ACID.
 SYNTHETIC DETERGENTS
 DYES AND PIGMENTS
 CLEANING IRON AND STEEL BEFORE PLATING WITH ZINC OR TIN.
 USED TO MAKE FABRICS SUCH AS RAYON.
 ELECTROLYTE IN LEAD-ACID BATTERIES USED IN MOTOR VEHICLES.
Uses of Sulfur compounds
 SO2 IS USED AS A BLEACHING OR A DISINFECTANT.
 NAHSO3 IS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER

EPSOM SALT (MGSO4. 7H2O) IS USED AS A :

• LAXATIVE
• BATH SALT
• MAGNESIUM SUPPLEMENT FOR PLANTS.
 Environmental Impact of the
Sulfuric Acid Industry
INDUSTRIAL EMISSIONS OF SULFURIC ACID OR OXIDES OF SULFUR
RESULTS IN ACID RAIN.

• THISRESULTS IN THE DESTRUCTION OF AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS.

• ACIDIFYING SOIL MAKING IT UNSUITABLE FOR PLANT GROWTH.
• EROSION OF CARBONATE ( E.G. LIMESTONE) ROCKS AND STRUCTURES.

SO2IS A RESPIRATORY IRRITANT

ALSO A GREENHOUSE GAS