SULFURIC ACID
PLANT
What is Sulfuric Acid?
Sulfuric Acid, known in antiquity as oil of vitriol, is a mineral
acid composed of sulfur, oxygen, and hydrogen, with the
molecular formula H₂SO₄. It is a colorless, odorless, and dense
liquid that is miscible with water.
Sulfuric Acid is a highly corrosive chemical compound, usually
acquired in laboratories from sulfur dioxide. It is one of the most
generated and used chemical by-products globally since it has
numerous applications in the industry and the synthesis of other
chemical materials.
What is the use of THE PROCESS
Sufuric Acid?
Sulfuric Acid is used to Sulfuric Acid is
manufacture fertilizers, Exothermic process
pigments, dyes, drugs, More economial
explosives, detergents,
inorganic salt and acid.
uses less expensive
needs effort in keeping
the temperature
OVERVIEW OF THE CHEMICAL
OPERATION OF THE PLANT
SULFURIC ACID IS PREPARED INDUSTRIALLY BY THE REACTION OF WATER WITH
SULFUR TRIOXIDE, WHICH IS MADE BY A CHEMICAL COMBINATION OF SULFUR
DIOXIDE AND OXYGEN EITHER BY THE CONTACT PROCESS OR THE CHAMBER
PROCESS.
CHAMBER PROCESS
When sulfur in the air is heated, sulfur dioxide forms, which gives
sulfurous acid when combined with water. The dioxide is mixed with
oxygen to form the trioxide to make sulfuric acid, then coordinated
with water. A technique to create the trioxide that developed the
chamber process in the early days of the operation of the Leblanc
process. In this technique, the reaction between sulfur dioxide and
oxygen occurs in the presence of water and nitrogen oxides. Because
the response is relatively slow, this must provide sufficient residence
time for the mixed gases to react. This gaseous mixture is highly
corrosive, and the reaction must be complete in containers made of
lead.
CONTACT PROCESS
The Contact process, a modern industrial method of producing
sulfuric acid, has largely replaced the chamber or lead-chamber
process. Sulfur dioxide and oxygen, passed over a hot catalyst, unite
to form sulfur trioxide, which combines with water to make sulfuric
acid.
WHAT ARE THE BY-
PRODUCTS/WASTES OF THE
SULFURIC ACID PLANT?
Sulfuric acid is used in the manufacturing process for producing phosphoric acid. This acid is used to create
phosphate fertilizers and trisodium phosphate, used in detergent. Sulfuric acid is also used, together with
ammonia, to produce ammonium sulfate, which is another standard fertilizer. Approximately 60% of the
worldwide production of this acid is used to make high-quality fertilizers.
Sulfuric acid is also essential to the iron and steel-making industry. It is used to remove rust, oxidation, and
other impurities from the product.
Lead-acid batteries used in many different types of vehicles contain sulfuric acid. These batteries provide
power to the starter motor to start the car and run accessories such as the stereo system. The sulfuric acid
content of these batteries is relatively high and should be handled by a professional.
Sulfuric acid is also a dehydrating agent. It efficiently draws moisture and condensation away from many
substances.
The concentrated form can also dissolve many non-reactive metals when it is heated. Sulfuric acid is essential
to the chemical industry. It's also used to make explosives like TNT and nitroglycerin, aluminum sulfate, which
is used in papermaking, and aluminum hydroxide (used in water treatment). Hydrochloric acid and nitric acid.
It is also used in producing many plastics and dyes—perfume, disinfectant, and in the petroleum refining
industry.
PROVE OR DISPROVE WHETHER THE
SULFURIC ACID PLANT IS
LIABLE OR NOT TO THE CAUSE OF RESPIRATORY
ILLNESS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE FISH KILL THAT
HAPPENS IN THE COMMUNITY?
There are three types of sulfuric acid plant-Sulfur burning, Acid regeneration, and
Metallurgical. In the Acid regeneration plants, sulfuric acid decomposition into
SO2 and H2O is regenerated into fresh acid. The waste sulfur gases should not be
exposed to the atmosphere because sulfuric acid is a highly corrosive chemical.
If it reveals to the atmosphere, it may cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs, and it
can cause severe shortness of breath, which causes respiratory illness and can
cause headaches. It can cause cancer of the larynx in humans due to the low pH of
sulfuric acid. It also causes the fish to kill in the community. A low pH or too high
pH can cause the fisher to become ill, which should maintain the water's pH.
Hence, the sulfuric acid plant is responsible for the cause of respiratory illness in
people and the fish kill.
