CaSO4 to produce H2SO4

[SamCheung]

I understand that CaSO4 + C can produce H2SO4, Lime and other by products. Is there any company in the USA or Europe actually doing this? S is now very expensive now compared with a few years ago or even last year -> H2SO4 produced by direct combustion is now getting very expensive.

 

[mbeychok]

Did you really mean CaSO4 plus Carbon (C) produces H2SO4 ... or was that a typing mistake?

Milton Beychok
(Visit me at www.air-dispersion.com)
.

 

[SamCheung]

Yes, I mean what I have written. Heat and carbon is required to convert CaSO4 into H2SO4 thru 3 steps using the Muller-Kuhne technology.

Do you know any H2SO4 manufacturer using CaSO4 to produce H2SO4?

 

[moltenmetal]

Wow: it's not only shocking that sulphur is expensive enough to make this seem even remotely feasible, but it's also shocking that coal is CHEAP enough to make this remotely feasible?!!

Given all the sour gas and sour heavy oil that is being processed, why isn't sulphur cheaper?

 

[EdStainless]

Because all of the S is being turned in to acid or used in fertilizer.
In the early 90s S was about $100/t. As recently as 2005 it was as low as $30/t. Today it is somewhere above $500/t with some thinking that it will reach $1,000/t (potash already has reached that level).

http://firstenergy.com/research/documents/Facts-I-SulfurPriceBoom-2008-05-07.pdf

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Plymouth Tube

 

[SamCheung]

I did not know that China has already plants in production, instead of using CaSO4, they used Phosphogysum. If you guys are interested, there was a paper presented by the Chinese at the Tuscon - Arizona Sulfur 98 by Zhao Z. and Feng J. in 1998. These plants were proven and economical in the China situation.

Thanks to all who reponded to this thread.