SULFURIC ACID PRODUCTION

air

SO2
Raw S SO2 SO3
or catalytic more SO3
burner O2 N2
FeS2 converter O2 N2

contact
water absorption
slaker tower
lime tower

bisulfites sulfuric acid solution

(Ca(HSO3)2, Mg(HSO3)2) oleum
sulfates (CaSO4, MgSO4)
SULFURIC ACID PRODUCTION

𝑆𝑂 𝐻 𝑂 → 𝐻 𝑆𝑂
 SULFURIC ACID PRODUCTION

𝑆𝑂 𝐻 𝑂 → 𝐻 𝑆𝑂

no p re a er alone
but, water in strong sulfuric acid

Because: VP of water is sufficiently

high to cause the formation of an acid
mist that hinders absorption
SULFURIC ACID PRODUCTION

H2SO4(aq)
Oleum
 SULFURIC ACID PRODUCTION

1 Aqueous sulfuric acid

• H2SO4 + H2O
• Example: 98% H2SO4

Basis: 100 lb solution

 SULFURIC ACID PRODUCTION

2 Oleum
• f i g lf ic acid
• H2SO4 + dissolved SO3 (free SO3)

a % Oleum - %free SO3 by weight

Ex: 20% oleum

 SULFURIC ACID PRODUCTION

b % Total H2SO4
• when diluted with water, any free SO3 in
the oleum is converted to H2SO4
98
% %
80

c % Total SO3
• Total SO3 is the sum of free SO3 and SO3
in the H2SO4 solution
80
% %
98
 SULFURIC ACID PRODUCTION

Absorber Analysis

1 Check if oxidation of SO2 occurs in the absorber.

• If O2,WG is not equal to O2, CG then oxidation
happens. The O2 used for the oxidation is:

∆𝑂 𝑂 𝐶𝐺 𝑂 𝐺

• From the given converter gas (CG) and ∆O2,

compute for the SO3 available for
absorption (nSO3).
 SULFURIC ACID PRODUCTION

Absorber Analysis

2 Perform OMB and component balance (SO3

or H2SO4) to determine the amount of the
absorbing fluid (A) and the product acid (B)
If weak H2SO4 solution is used to produce strong H2SO4 solution:

𝐵: 𝐴 80 𝐵
Note: oleum = free SO3 (as %oleum) + H2SO4
80 80
: 𝐴 %𝐻 80 𝐵 % %𝐻
98 98

Note: The material balance will change if there in SO3 present (as unabsorbed) in the
waste gas. The SO3 in the above equations is the SO3 available for absorption!
 SULFURIC ACID PRODUCTION

Absorber Analysis

2 Perform OMB and component balance (SO3

or H2SO4) to determine the amount of the
absorbing fluid (A) and the product acid (B)
If strong H2SO4 solution is used to produce oleum:

𝐵: 𝐴 80 𝐵

80 80
: 𝐴 %𝐻 80 𝐵 %𝐻
98 98

Note: The material balance will change if there in SO3 present (as unabsorbed) in the
waste gas. The SO3 in the above equations is the SO3 available for absorption!
 REFERENCES
Lewis, W. K., et al. (1954). Industrial
Stoichiometry: Chemical Calculations of
Manufacturing Processes. McGraw Hill
Book Company, Inc.