Proposal 2
Proposal 2
Proposal 2
This is certified that Nadir Ali ,Muhammad Asif , Sheraz Ali and M,Humza have carried out this
project entitled “Production of Sulphuric Acid by using Cesium as a catalyst in Contact process
” for the award of Bachelor of Technology from university of engineering and technology,
Lahore under my supervision. The project embodies result of original work and studies carried
out by student themselves and the contents of the project do not form the basis for the award
of any other degree to the candidates or to anybody else.
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Project Proposal
Topic: “Production of Sulfuric acid and Oleum using Vanadium Cesium as a
catalyst in Contact process”
Sulfuric acid:
Sulfuric acid is a highly corrosive strong mineral acid with the molecular formula
H2SO4 and its structure has been shown in the figure below:
OH S OH
Beaumont, JJ; Leveton, J; Knox, K; Bloom, T; McQuiston, T; Young, M; Goldsmith, R; Steenland, NK; Brown, DP; Halperin,
WE (1987). "Lung cancer mortality in workers exposed to sulfuric acid mist and other acid mists". J Natl Cancer Inst. 79
Uses:
Sulfuric acid is mainly used in the production of fertilizer and other chemical manufacturing
like HCL, nitric acid, synthetic detergent, pulp and paper industry, pigment, wastewater
treatment and batteries petroleum, fiber, plastics and detergent etc. The initial review of
literature revealed that the current production capacity of Sulfuric acid was around 200 million
tonnes per year, and is currently growing at about 1.2% per year
Process selection:
There are two main processes for manufacturing of sulphuric acid namely
Lead chamber process and
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Contact process
Method of producing sulfuric acid by oxidizing sulfur dioxide with moist air,
using gaseous nitrogen oxides as catalysts, the reaction taking place primarily in a series of
large, boxlike chambers of lead sheet. The lead-chamber process has been largely supplanted in
modern industrial production by the contact process.
Lead Chamber process produces sulphuric acid of concentration less than 80 % and it is
expensive as compared to contact process [Edward M. Jones, "Chamber Process Manufacture of Sulfuric
Acid", Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, Nov 1950, Vol 42, No. 11, pp 2208–10.].The major disadvantage
includes the limitations in throughput, quality and concentration of the acid produced [F. A.
Gooch and C. F. Walker, Outlines of Inorganic Chemistry, MacMillan, London, 1905, pp 274.].
Principle:
SO2 is obtained by burning sulphur.
S(s) + O2 (g) SO2 (g)
H2SO4 is obtained by the oxidation of SO2 in presence of NO catalyst.
SO2 (g) + O2 (g) + H2O (l) H2SO4 (l)
Two mechanism has been subjected:
Berzelius mechanism:
2NO (g) + O2 (g) 2NO2 (g)
NO2 (g) + SO2 (g) SO3 (g) + NO (g)
SO3 (g) + H2O (l) H2SO4 (l)
Navy and Lunge mechanism:
2NO (g) + O2 (g) 2NO2 (g)
NO (g) + NO2 (g) + 2SO2 (g) + O2 (g) + H2O (l) 2(NO.HSO4) (Nitrosyl hydrogen sulphate)
2(NO.HSO4) (l) + H2O (l) 2H2SO4 (l) + NO (g) +NO2 (g)
Main Equipment:
Pyrite burner or sulphur burner:
Dust chamber
Nitre pot
Glover tower
Lead Chamber
Gay-Lussac’s tower
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Purification of chamber acid
Contact process:
Conversions using single absorption contact process were typically about 97-98 percent [ "Sulfuric
Acid 98%" (PDF). rhodia.com. 2009. Retrieved 2 July 2014.]. While in current double absorption flow
process, achievable conversions are as high as 99.7 percent [Davenport, William George & King, Matthew
J. (2006). Sulfuric acid manufacture: analysis, control and optimization. Elsevier. pp. 8, 13. ISBN 978-0-08-044428-4.
All known new plants use the contact process although some older
Retrieved 23 December 2011..].
chamber process plants may still be in use. Contact process has been best of production
hydrogen teraoxosulphate acid otherwise known as sulfuric acid. Sulfuric acid has a great
importance to any industries as raw material. There are many steps involved in the production
of H2SO4 via Contact Process include the following
Preparation of SO2
Purification of SO2
Oxidation of SO2
Absorption of SO3
Dilution of Oleum
Steps involved in Contact Process
1. Making of SO2 by burning a sulfur in excess of air.
S(s) +O2 (g) SO2 (g)
2. Converting SO2 into SO3
SO2 (g) + ½ O2 (g) V2O5 SO3 (g)
3. Converting SO3 into Sulfuric acid
SO3 (g) + H2O (l) H2SO4
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2)
International Process Plants Hamilton Business Center 17A Marlen Drive Hamilton, NJ 08691
3)
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List of Major equipments in Contact process:
Main equipments being used in this process are
o Furnace
o Heat exchanger
o Convertor
o Absorber
import( Kg V Year)
100,000 84,542
80,000 66,039
47,329 48,932
43,538
60,000 38,279
32,387
Kg
Application:
Sulfuric acid is a highly corrosive strong mineral acid with the molecular formula H2SO4.
It is a colorless to slightly yellow viscous liquid which is soluble in water at all
concentrations.
Strong oxidizing and dehydrating agent.
Density: 1.84 g/cm³
Molar mass: 98.079 g/mol
boiling point: 337 °C