Chemical Process Industries

Hemant Kumara Balsora

Chemical engineering department
hemant.balsora@srict.in
 Course Outcomes
Unit Processes & Chemical Technology
1. Develop fundamental understanding of the process carried out in chemical
industry
2. Explain the basic reaction steps involved in the production of various grades
of products.
3. Construct process flow diagrams for different chemical manufacturing plants.
4. Predict all possible trouble shootings arise in chemical plants.
5. To review the practical importance and relevance of process takes place in
chemical industry
6. Resolve all technological and economical problems arise in the chemical
manufacturing plants.
 SODIUM THIOSULFATE
 Sodium thiosulfate, Na2S2O3 is a colourless crystalline compound which is more familiar
as the pentahydrate, Na2S2O3.5H2O, an efflorescent, monoclinic crystalline substance also
called sodium hyposulfite or “hypo.”
 Commercially sodium thiosulfate is produced using air oxidation of sulfides, polysulfides
and hydrosulfides.
 It is also obtained as by-product in manufacturing of sulfur dyes and sulfur black.
 It can also be produced using reaction of sodium sulfide with sulfur dioxide and soda
ash or caustic soda.
 Aqueous solution of sodium thiosulfate is generally neutral.
 Decomposition of sodium thiosulfate produces sodium sulfite and sulfur at under neutral
or at slightly acidic condition.
 Alkaline solution decomposes to sulfate and sulfide in the presence of air.
 MANUFACTURE It is a weak
acid and
1. From soda ash sulfurdioxide attacks
metals

Sodium bisulfite Soda ash Sodium thiosulfate

Process:
1. Soda ash solution is allowed to percolate downward through a series of absorption towers countercurrent to
sulfur dioxide gas.
2. The absorption towers are generally lead-lined, packed with wood slats, and supported by acid-proof brick.
3. The solution leaving the bottom of the last tower was chiefly sodium bisulfite which contains 22%.
4. The solution is then run into ceramic lined cast-iron pot fitted with an agitator.
5. Sufficient soda ash is added to convert the bisulfite to neutral sodium sulfite. Then sulfur was added, and the
contents of the kettle were heated to boiling.
6. The resulting solution of sodium thiosulfate is pumped to a steam-heated evaporator, where it is
concentrated.
7. The hot liquor from evaporator is then cooled, crystallized, and centrifuged in the conventional manner.
8. Sodium thiosulfate crystals are efflorescent and must be packed at once in moisture-tight containers.
Figure: Manufacture of Sodium thiosulfate from soda ash and sulfur dioxide
USES
 Sodium thiosulfate is used as antichlor in bleaching of paper pulp
 In manufacture of leather and for extraction of silver from ores
 As mordant in dyeing and printing textiles and reducer in chrome dyeing and bacteriological
water assessment
 As bleaching bone, ivory and straw
 Important reagent in analytical chemistry
 For making chlorine level low in swimming pools
 As solute in supersaturation experiments
 In treatment of calciphylaxis in hemodialysis patients with end stage renal disease
 In extraction of Gold
Thank you