GB1513516A - Process for the production of sulphuric acid - Google Patents

Abstract

1513516 Sulphuric acid production INST KHIMICHE FIZIKI AKAD NAUK SSSR 8 June 1976 23670/76 Heading C1A H 2 SO 4 is produced by oxidizing SO 2 with O 2 at a total gas pressure of 2 to 80 atm. at a temperature of 40‹C. to 200‹C. in an acid free water or an aqueous medium containing up to 95 wt. per cent H 2 SO 4 and a catalyst comprising HNO 3 or a salt thereof and/or NO x in an amount corresponding to 0À1 to 15% NO 2 by total weight of the medium. Preferred salts are cerium nitrate and silver nitrate. In an embodiment (see figure) atmospheric air is compressed to 2-80 atm. in a compressor I and fed to the combustion chamber 2 for burning the sulphurous starting material, a sufficiently high temperature in the combustion zone (800‹C.-2000‹C.) enables NO 2 to be produced by oxidation of atmospheric N 2 . The mixed gas stream issuing from 2 is cooled to 300‹C.-700‹C. in 3 and then passed to reactor A comprising a plate column operating at a pressure of 2-80 atm. and at a temperature of 40‹C. to 200‹C. and top fed with water, and in which the SO2 is countercurrent contacted. Excess heat may be removed from the reactor by SO2 pumped by 5 around coils in the reactor, this excess heat along with that generated in 3, may be used to drive turbines 6 and 12. Residual process gases are removed from 4 and decontaminated in 9, the gas stream being then also fed to a gas turbine unit 10. Using the energy generated in 6, 9 and 12 the process is capable of being completely self-supporting regarding power requirements. The sulphuric acid so produced, and withdrawn from the bottom of reactor 4, has a concentration of 93-95 wt. per cent.