Sie sind auf Seite 1von 6

THE CONTACT PROCESS

A brief summary of the Contact Process


The Contact Process:
Makes sulphur dioxide
Converts the sulphur dioxide into sulphur trioxide
(the reversible reaction at the heart of the process)
Converts the sulphur trioxide into concentrated
sulphuric acid.
Making the sulphur dioxide
This can either be made by burning sulphur in an excess
of air
S(s)+ O2(g)--------------SO2(g)
or by heating sulphide ores like pyrite in an excess of
air:
4FeS2(s) +11O2(g) --------------2Fe2O3(s)+8 SO2(g)

In either case, an excess of air is used so that the sulphur


dioxide produced is already mixed with oxygen for the
next stage.

Converting the sulphur dioxide into sulphur


trioxide

This is a reversible reaction, and the formation of the


sulphur trioxide is exothermic.
A flow scheme for this part of the process looks like this:

Converting the sulphur trioxide into sulphuric acid

This can't be done by simply adding water to the sulphur


trioxide - the reaction is so uncontrollable that it creates a
fog of sulphuric acid. Instead, the sulphur trioxide is first
dissolved in concentrated sulphuric acid:
H2SO4(l) +SO3(g)---------------H2S2O7(l)
The product is known as fuming sulphuric acid or oleum.
This can then be reacted safely with water to produce
concentrated sulphuric acid - twice as much as you
originally used to make the fuming sulphuric acid.
H2S2O7(l) + H2O(l) ----------------2H2SO4(l)

The chemical formula for sulphur dioxide is SO .


Sulphur dioxide is a colourless, soluble gas with a characteristic pungent
smell which forms sulphuric acid when combined with water.
2

Sources
Sulphur dioxide is produced mainly from the combustion of fossil fuels that
contain sulphur, such as coal and oil (eg, coal being burnt in a home fireplace
for heating and diesel-powered vehicles). Sulphur dioxide is also produced
from some industrial processes (eg fertiliser manufacturing, aluminium
smelting and steel making).
Natural sources of sulphur dioxide include geothermal activity.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

Effects on health
Sulphur dioxide can cause respiratory problems such as bronchitis, and can irritate
your nose, throat and lungs. It may cause coughing, wheezing, phlegm and asthma
attacks. The effects are worse when you are exercising. Sulphur dioxide has been
linked to cardiovascular disease.
Groups most affected are:
Children
Asthmatics
Adults with lung disease

Effects on ecosystems
Sulphur dioxide can cause acid rain which seriously affects ecosystems. Sulphur
dioxide deposition can affect vegetation around industrial discharges and in cities.
Lichens are good bio-indicators of pollution as they do not like to grow where there is
sulphur dioxide in the air.

Effects on visibility
Sulphur dioxide can form secondary particles (sulphates) that cause haze and
reduce visibility.

MINIMIZING SULPHUR DIOXIDE IN ATMOSPHERE


Sulfur dioxide
Power stations give out sulfur dioxide, which is thought to be a cause of acid rain. The amount of
sulfur dioxide given off by a power station can be reduced by:

removing sulfur from natural gas and fuel oil


removing sulfur dioxide from the flue gases emitted by coal-burning power stations.

Wet scrubbing - Higher tier

Wet scrubbing involves the removal of sulfur dioxide from flue gases before it escapes from the
power station chimney. Two methods are employed:

spraying the flue gases with seawater droplets (naturally alkaline) which react with
the sulfur dioxide
using powdered lime (calcium oxide) mixed with water to form an alkaline slurry.
When mixed with air and sprayed with the slurry the sulfur dioxide in the flue gases reacts
and forms solid calcium sulphate. This solid is removed allowing cleaned gases to escape.
Coal-powered stations give off solid particulates. These can also be removed from the flue gases.
Waste gases pass through an electrostatic precipitator allowing particulates to be collected and
removed.

Das könnte Ihnen auch gefallen