Uses of sulpheric acid

 In the manufacture of fertilizers, ammonium phosphate and calcium super phosphate.

 In the manufacture of rayon and nylon and also in the preparation of dyes and drugs from coal tar derivatives.
 In the manufacture of the explosives such as Tri-nitro toluene , Tri-nitro glycerine and picric acid.
 In the manufacture of nitric acid, hydrochloric acid and phosphoric acid.
 In the manufacture of sodium sulphate for glass industry and ferrous sulphate for ink industry.
 In the purification of petrol, kerosene, and lubricants.
 It is used in metallurgy for extraction of metals. Leaching of metallic compounds gives sulphates which on electrolysis
gives the metal in pure form .It is used for pickling of metals.
 It is used in storage of batteries.
 It is used as a laboratory reagent for the preparation of iodine, carbon monoxide and hydrogen.
Industrial process involved in the manufacture of
sulphuric acid

Introduction to industrial preparation of sulphuric acid

(CONTACT PROCESS) 
The following units are involved in the manufacture of sulphuric acid. It is Manufactured by contact process 
 
1.Production of sulphur dioxide
Purified air or oxygen is blown thro a blower. Sulphur or iron pyrite is burnt to produce sulphurdioxide.
S+O2-------- SO2
  4FeS2  +11O2    ---- 2Fe2 O3   + 8 SO2
Burning is preferred in oxygen than air because heat energy is wasted in heating the nitrogen present in air which is not reactive.

Industrial Preparation of Sulphuric Acid : Purification Unit

The mixture of sulphur dioxide and oxygen is passed thro dusting tower which remove dust particles .Steam is blown downward in
the dusting tower.
The gases are passed over cooling pipes which cools the gases.
Then it is passed thro scrubbing tower, where water is sprayed down ward. The further impurities will be removed.
Then it is passed thro drying tower in which concentrated sulphuric acid is sprayed downward Which removes the moisture present
in the gaseous mixture and they become dry.
Then it is passed thro arsenic tower which contains ferric hydroxide which removes arsenic oxide.
Testing box. The out coming gas is tested for its purity  by the passage of light thro darkened box.

Industrial Preparation of Sulphuric Acid : Catalytic Oxidation of Sulphurdioxide.

The purified gas is passed over contact tower for the catalytic oxidation of sulphudioxide to sulphur trioxide. It is an iron tower
packed with vanadium pentoxide as catalyst. Which is heated to 450degree Celsius. At 1to2atmospheres.
2 SO2    + O2-------- 2SO3  +DH
98% of sulphurdioxide will be converted to sulphur trioxide.
Vanadium pent oxide is cheaper and less easily poisoned by impurities It is shredded and mixed with potassium oxide  as a
promoter to enhance the catalyst. The contact mass is porous So the gases can enter to the interior of the granules. The reaction is
exothermic which maintains the temperature of the catalyst to 450' – 500'. So the catalyst is heated only at the initial stage.
The forward reaction is favoured by increasing the pressure of the reactants because the reaction takes place with decrease in
volume. But if the pressure increased it may cause damage to lead pipes and acid resisting towers.. Even the catalyst will undergo
decom[position. So 1-2 atmosphere pressure is used.

Industrial Preparation of Sulphuric Acid : Absorption Tower

Though sul;phur trioxide is highly soluble in water, it cannot be done. It is highly exothermic resulting in the formation of a dense fog
of sulphuric acid particle which do not condense easily
The sulphur trioxide obtained in the above step is passed over absorption tower to which stream of concentrated sulphuric acid will
be poured. In this tower sulphur trioxide combines with sulphuricacid yielding oleum H2S2O7.
5. dilution of oleum
This is done in dilution tank .
Here oleum combines with soft water  
H2S2O7 + H2O ------ 2H2SO4 
Sulphur dioxide cuases environmental pollution
Introduction:
                   Sulphur dioxide is one of the greenhouse gases. It is colorless and has pungent smell. Sulphur dioxide can be easily
liquefied and dissolves in water quickly. Sulphur dioxide is mainly produced from the power plants during burning of coal. Sulphur
dioxide is also mainly responsible for environmental pollution and causes global warming.

Explanation:
Sources:
The main sources of sulphur dioxide is
 Coal power plants
 Volcanic eruptions
Coal power plants:
              Coal power plants produces large amount of sulphur dioxide as impurities. Sulphur dioxide is produced during burning of
coal. This gets emitted in the air using chimneys get mixed with atmospheric air causes environmental pollution.
Volcanic eruptions:
             During the volcanic eruptions various gases like carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide get evolved at heights.
Where sulphur dioxide gets converted into sulphuric acid in the atmosphere causes environmental pollution.
Environmental effects:
            Sulphur dioxide is converted into sulphuric acid, sulphur trioxide and sulphates whenever a contact with the atmosphere
causes environmental pollution. Sulphur dioxide dissolves in water form sulfurous acid. The main impact of sulphur dioxide is acid
rain.
Acid rain:
 Sulphur dioxide in the atmosphere gets contact with rain produces acid rain.
  It corrodes monuments, statues and buildings.
 In humans it causes cancer and leads to other diseases.
 In affects the soil fertility and affects plants growth.
 It turns out the water sources to acidic.
Smog:
 Smog is produced as a result of reactions of sulphur dioxide with the environment.
 Smog is caused due to the emissions of sulphur dioxide, carbon dioxide and nitrogen dioxide by vehicles causes
environmental pollution.
 Smog affects human health causing respiratory and heart disorders in childrens and peoples.
Global warming:
 It is the greenhouse gases that increase the temperature of the earth by absorbing sunlight as it is present in large
amount in the atmosphere.
Effects on humans:
 Sulphur dioxide is poisonous and hence irritates eyes, nose and lungs.
 It induces respiratory disorders, breathing problems and cardiovascular diseases.
 This also affects plants and animals.