Sulfuric acid manufacturing process

Sulfuric acid characteristics| H2SO4

Sulfuric acid is a strong dibasic acid.
Releasing sulfuric acid to the environment may cause many
harmful effects to humans, animals and also to the environment.
Oxidation number of sulfur atom in the sulfuric molecule is +6.
Molecular shape of sulfuric molecule is tetrahedral.
Sulfuric acid manufacturing processes
There are two ways to produce sulfuric acid in industry.
1.Lead Chamber process
2.Contact process
Contact process of sulfuric acid manufacturing
Contact process is the most widely used method of sulfuric acid
manufacturing. Sulfur dioxide is produced in many occasions.

Raw materials for sulfuric acid manufacturing process in

contact process
•Sulfur of sulfide compound - to produce SO2 gas
•Air - to burn sulfur or sulfur compounds
•Pre manufactured sulfuric acid - to dissolve produced sulfuric
acid
•Water
Process of catalysts in contact process
•Pt pr V2O5 can be used.
•Pt is more efficient. But Pt get poisoned rapidly in the presence
of sulfur.
•Hence we have to use V2O5. But V2O5 has low efficient. But it
is cheap.

Sulfuric acid manufacturing process

Sulfuric acid manufacturing is a long process and catalysts,
heating,high pressures, le chatelier's principle are applied during
the complete process.
Step 1
Burning sulfur or sulfide compound
Sulfur or sulfide compound is burnt in air to produce
sulfur dioxide gas (SO2). For sulfide compounds, ZnS, PbS, FeS
are used.
 Step 2
Conversion of sulfur dioxide to sulfur trioxide | SO2 to SO3
Furthermore SO2 is oxidized by oxygen. This reaction is a
reversible one.

Catalysts used in sulfur dioxide to sulfur trioxide

Platinum or vanadium oxide can be used as catalyst. Both have advantages and
drawbacks.

advantages and drawbacks of platium and vanadium hydroxide as catalysts

•Platinum (Pt) is more efficient than vanadium pentoxide (V 2O5). But in the presence of
sulfur platinum gets easily poisoned. But vanadium pentoxide does not get poisoned
easily.
•Pt is also very expensive compared to vanadium pentoxide.

sulfur dioxide is past through several catalyst beds.

 Step 3
Reaction of sulfur trioxide and water
Reaction of sulfur trioxide and water is very passive one.
Reason is, water vapor from the ystem reacts with SO3 easily
and forms H2SO4 smog. That smog does not dissolve in water
easily.
Therefore, SO3 is dissolved in a 98% - 99% pre manufactured
sulfuric acid solution. Sulfur trioxide is more soluble in sulfuric
acid and form fuming sulfuric acid.
Fuming sulfuric acid - H2S2O7

Fuming sulfuric acid is diluted with water to produce sulfuric acid

Uses of sulfuric acid
•Produce superphosphate fertilizer from apatite.
•produce colorings
•Produce HCl in the laboratory
•to fill motor vehicle batteries