GB912165A - Improvements in or relating to the purification of sulphur - Google Patents

Abstract

A method according to the parent Specification wherein S ore, containing 50-75% S, of a size below 80 mesh is purified by feeding 2 discrete streams into a vessel containing stirred water, the first stream being the ore at above 265 DEG F. and containing molten S and the second stream being a mixture of H2O at above 200 DEG F. and solid S particles, the the mixture of H2O and S particles whose solidification has begun are discharged at 212 DEG F. from the vessel and cooled in at least one further vessel before being fed to a classifier to separate S of greater than 80 mesh size. The S before being melted may be comminuted to less than 320 mesh and contains gangue, e.g. water-insoluble inorganic compounds such as siliceous material. The water to solids weight ratio may be from 4-7:1 or for a batch process down to 1 1/2 :1. A mixer, of or lined with Al, Pb or glass, with a stirrer, e.g. inverted hollow cone, is charged with H2O at 200 DEG -212 DEG F. The molten S is fed into the mixer, e.g. into the eye of the stirrer, together with a stream of H2O at 200 DEG -212 DEG F. containing S crystals which may be derived from the process. Gangue is separated from the S which forms globules of 30-60 mesh. An overflow of S, gangue and H2O is gravity fed to a vessel where it is cooled to 150 DEG F. and may then be fed to further coolers. Stirring is desirable in all coolers. The classifier may be a counter-current type. Specification 912,164 also is referred to.