SUMMARY OF MANUFACTURE IN INDUSTRY

MANUFACTURE OF SULPHURIC ACID

USES OF H2SO4 Manufacture of dyes, pigment, paint Manufacture of artificial fibre eg: rayon and nylon Metallurgy: cleaning metals Manufacture of insecticides As an electrolyte in car batteries Leather tannning Manufacture of detergent Production of fertiliser

Contact proses
Industrially, the main method of manufacture of sulphuric acid is the Contact Process. In this process, sulphur dioxide is first catalytically oxidized to sulphur trioxide. The trioxide is then absorbed by concentrated sulphuric acid. The product is then diluted to the desired concentration of the acid required.

1. Production of Sulphur Dioxide

Sulphur dioxide is prepared by burning sulphur or iron pyrites.

2. Purification of Sulphur Dioxide

Before catalytic oxidation of sulphur dioxide, impurities like dust, arsenic etc. have to be removed otherwise they spoil the catalyst.

3. Catalytic Oxidation of Sulphur Dioxide to Sulphur Trioxide with Oxygen of the air
The catalysts used in this process are platinum or vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) that are heated to a high temperature. The optimum temperature required is 450 - 500oC.

Remember: Low temperature favours the oxidation of sulphur dioxide. If the temperature is too low, the rate of reaction is slowed down. At high temperature sulphur trioxide may decompose back to form sulphur dioxide and oxygen. So an optimum temperature of 450-500oC is generally used.

4. Absorption of Sulphur Trioxide in 98% Sulphuric Acid

The sulphur trioxide formed is not dissolved in water directly to yield sulphuric acid. This is because this reaction is highly exothermic. It forms clouds of sulphur trioxide and water vapour, which corrode the plant and machinery and make intolerant working conditions. Instead, sulphur trioxide is absorbed by 98% sulphuric acid to produce pyrosulphuric acid or oleum.

Remember: Oleum is also called pyrosulphuric acid or orthosulphuric acid. Its usual formula is H2S2O7. It can also be represented as H2SO4SO3.

5. Dilution of Oleum or Pyrosulphuric Acid with Water

Requisite quantity of water is then added to Oleum, so as to obtain sulphuric acid of the desired concentration.

Summary of Contact Process

Step 1 Production of SO2 from pyrites or sulphur. Step 2 Purification of SO2 from air impurities like dust, arsenic etc. are removed as otherwise these will lead to poisoning of catalyst. Step 3 Catalytic oxidation of SO2 to SO3. Catalyst - V2O5 (Vanadium pentoxide) or platinumTemperature: 450oC - 500oC. Pressure: 760 - 1520 mm of Hg Step 4 Absorption of SO3 in 98% sulphuric acid to form oleum. Step 5 Dilution of oleum to obtain sulphuric acid of desired concentration.

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Contact process