Sulfuric Acid and Sulfur Trioxide

Abstract The article contains sections titled: 1 Introduction 2 Properties 2.1 Physical Properties 2.2 Chemical Properties 3 Development of the Sulfuric Acid Industry 3.1 Early Development 3.2 Further Development of the Nitrogen Oxide Process 3.3 Ascendency of the Contact Process 3.3.1 Double‐Absorption 3.3.2 Environment and Energy 3.4 Raw Material Usage 4 Production 4.1 Production by Contact Processes 4.1.1 Reaction Mechanism and Thermodynamics 4.1.1.1 Influences on the Conversion Equilibrium 4.1.1.2 Influences on Reaction Rate 4.1.2 Catalysts 4.1.2.1 Operating Temperature Range 4.1.2.2 Service Life 4.1.2.3 Metal Recovery 4.1.2.4 Landfill 4.1.2.5 Reuse 4.1.3 Process Summary 4.1.3.1 Gas Drying 4.1.3.2 Catalytic Oxidation of Sulfur Dioxide 4.1.3.3 Gas–Gas Heat Exchangers 4.1.3.4 Absorption of Sulfur Trioxide 4.1.3.5 Gas Filters 4.1.3.6 Acid Cooling 4.1.3.7 Gas/Air Compressors 4.1.3.8 Acid Pumps 4.1.3.9 Stack 4.1.4 Practical Versions of the Contact Process 4.1.4.1 Double‐Absorption Process Based on Sulfur Combustion 4.1.4.2 Double‐Absorption Processes Based on Metallurgical Gases 4.1.4.3 Processing High‐SO 2 Off‐Gas: The Lurec™ Process 4.1.4.4 Ordinary Single‐Absorption Processes 4.1.4.5 Wet‐Catalysis Processes 4.1.5 Operational Issues: Gas Leaks and Hydrogen Events in Acid Plants 4.1.6 Tail‐Gas Treatment 4.1.6.1 Ammonia Scrubbing 4.1.6.2 W ellman –L ord Process 4.1.6.3 Sulfacid Process™ 4.1.6.4 Peracidox™ Process 4.1.6.5 Stack Gas 4.1.7 NO x Removal