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Sulfuric Acid Production Sulfuric Acid: By: Carl Cesar H. Bibat

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Sam Denielle Tugaoen

Sulfuric acid is a colorless liquid that is highly corrosive and an effective oxidizer. It is produced industrially through two main methods - the lead chamber process and the contact process. The contact process is the most common modern method. It involves burning sulfur to produce sulfur dioxide, converting the sulfur dioxide to sulfur trioxide over a vanadium catalyst, and absorbing the sulfur trioxide in concentrated sulfuric acid to form oleum. The conditions of the contact process, such as the temperature and pressure, affect the equilibrium and yield of sulfur trioxide.

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Sulfuric Acid Production Sulfuric Acid: By: Carl Cesar H. Bibat

Uploaded by

Sam Denielle Tugaoen
79 views7 pages
Sulfuric acid is a colorless liquid that is highly corrosive and an effective oxidizer. It is produced industrially through two main methods - the lead chamber process and the contact process. The contact process is the most common modern method. It involves burning sulfur to produce sulfur dioxide, converting the sulfur dioxide to sulfur trioxide over a vanadium catalyst, and absorbing the sulfur trioxide in concentrated sulfuric acid to form oleum. The conditions of the contact process, such as the temperature and pressure, affect the equilibrium and yield of sulfur trioxide.

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Sulfuric acid is a colorless liquid that is highly corrosive and an effective oxidizer. It is produced industrially through two main methods - the lead chamber process and the contact process. The contact process is the most common modern method. It involves burning sulfur to produce sulfur dioxide, converting the sulfur dioxide to sulfur trioxide over a vanadium catalyst, and absorbing the sulfur trioxide in concentrated sulfuric acid to form oleum. The conditions of the contact process, such as the temperature and pressure, affect the equilibrium and yield of sulfur trioxide.

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79 views7 pages

Sulfuric Acid Production Sulfuric Acid: By: Carl Cesar H. Bibat

Uploaded by

Sam Denielle Tugaoen
Sulfuric acid is a colorless liquid that is highly corrosive and an effective oxidizer. It is produced industrially through two main methods - the lead chamber process and the contact process. The contact process is the most common modern method. It involves burning sulfur to produce sulfur dioxide, converting the sulfur dioxide to sulfur trioxide over a vanadium catalyst, and absorbing the sulfur trioxide in concentrated sulfuric acid to form oleum. The conditions of the contact process, such as the temperature and pressure, affect the equilibrium and yield of sulfur trioxide.

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5/23/2016

Sulfuric Acid
Sulfuric Acid Production
• Former known as oil of vitriol
By: Carl Cesar H. Bibat
• A chemical formula of H2SO4
• Colorless to yellowish in color
• Miscible in water
• Highly corrosive
• Highly oxidizing
• LC50 = 25 mg/m3

Sulfuric Acid Concentrations Sulfuric Acid Concentrations

Concentration
CORROSIVE
Mass fraction Common Name
(mol/L)
10% ~1 Dilute sulfuric acid 1.5 M • HYDROLYSIS
Battery acid (lead-acid
29 – 32% 4.2 – 5
batteries) • DEHYDRATION
Chamber acid
62 – 70% 9.6 – 11.5
Fertilizer acid
78 – 80% 13.5 – 14 Glover tower acid
98% ~18 Concentrated sulfuric acid
0.5 M
% Oleum to % Acid:
IRRITANT
% Acid = 100 + 18/80 *%Oleum

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Sulfuric Acid Applications Sulfuric Acid Applications

Car battery

Sulfuric Acid Applications Sulfuric Acid Applications

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Sulfuric Acid Applications Lead Chamber Process


 Developed by John Roebuck in 1746
 Production of sulfuric acid (78% H2SO4)
in lead-lined chambers

Lead Chamber Process LCP – 1st stage

Pyritic ore

SO2
BURNER
Air

S8 + 8O2 -> 5SO2


3FeS2 + 5CO2 -> Fe3O4 + 6SO2

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LCP – 2nd stage Contact Processes


Lead-lined
chambers
 Peregrine Phillips in 1831
SO2
 Current method of producing sulphuric
acid
H2O
HNO2  Usually uses vanadium (V) oxide as a
HNO3
NOHSO4
H2SO4
catalyst
NO2
NO
NOx

Contact Processes Contact Processes


Molten sulphur Waste gas

98% sulphuric acid, H2SO4


BURNER

SO2 (gas) 2% water

Air

450 degC
SO3
(gas)

99.5% sulphuric acid,


H2SO4

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CP – 1st stage CP – 1st stage


 Sulphur coming from by-products of
petroleum processing
 Sulphur is burned in air to make sulfur
dioxide gas:

S(l) + O2(g) -> SO2(g)

CP – 2nd stage CP – 2nd stage


 Conversion of sulfur dioxide to sulfur
trioxide
 Reactions happens on a catalyst of
vanadium (V) oxide to speed up the
reaction.

2SO2(g) + O2(g) -> 2SO3(g)

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CP – 2nd stage CP – 3rd stage


 Sulfur trioxide is converted into sulfuric
acid
 Sulfur trioxide gas is absorbed into a very
concentrated sulfuric acid (98% H2SO4 in
water) producing oleum

SO3(g) + H2O(l) -> H2SO4(l)

Conditions in Contact Process Exercise


 Vanadium (V) oxide catalyst do not work  Which step in Contact process involves a
below 400 degC reversible reaction?
 The percent yield of sulfur trioxide (97%) ◦ Burning sulfur
 The forward reaction is favored by low ◦ Changing sulphur dioxide into sulphur
temperatures and high pressures trioxide
◦ Changing sulphur trioxide into sulphuric acid

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Exercise Exercise
 Why are there strict limitations set on  You get a higher yield of sulphur trioxide
the release of sulphur dioxide gas into the at equilibrium with a low temperature
air as a waste product from the process? ◦ True / False
 You get a higher yield of sulphur trioxide
at equilibrium with a high temperature
◦ True / False
 You get a higher yield of sulphur trioxide
at equilibrium with a low pressure.
◦ True / False

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