Sulfuric acid, however, is a non-volatile liquid with a boiling point of approximately 290C at atmospheric pressure.

Tests on its behavior when combined with isobutane under alkylation reaction conditions were conducted by STRATCO in 1990. In these scientific tests, sulfuric acid consistently remained in its liquid state. No aerosols or vapors were observed during any portion of the tests. In September and October 1991, STRATCO co-sponsored a series of scientific field tests with seven oil companies: Mobil, Exxon Research and Engineering, Chevron, Amoco, Texaco, Unocal and BP. These unprecedented tests, which simulated operations of a commercial sulfuric acid alkylation unit, documented and confirmed STRATCO's tests results and its scientific conclusion that sulfuric acid does not vaporize when released at ambient conditions.

Safety:
Leaks or spills of sulfuric acid fall to the ground and can be easily contained. Small spills should be carefully flooded with water and then neutralized with soda ash or lime prior to disposal. Large spills of sulfuric acid should be recovered if possible. Sulfuric acid alkylation units do not require such an extensive and expensive mitigation system as in the case of HF. The acid area in a sulfuric acid alkylation unit is usually curbed to contain any liquid spills. Dedicated sewers then direct the spill to the neutralization pit in the blowdown sections. Transportation Spent sulfuric acid is regenerated by thermal decomposition outside the battery limits of the sulfuric acid alkylation unit. This The choice between these two options is site specific and usually depends on capital versus operating cost considerations and existing commercial regeneration plant.

refinery site in sulfuric acid regeneration equipment operated by the refinery or in a commercial sulfuric acid regeneration plan

Several years ago a study was published which attempted to estimate the risks involved with transporting fresh and spent sul

unit and an off-site regeneration plant. While nearly two-thirds of sulfuric acid for alkylation units is transported by pipeline, ra

all of the sulfuric acid was transported by truck. On this basis, the study concluded that the transportation risk is from vehicul sulfuric acid regeneration equipment.

the additional trucks on the roads. There is virtually no risk from the sulfuric acid itself. Of course, even this relatively minor r