High-efficiency process for production of sulfur from metallurgical sulfur dioxide gases

Process in which sulfur is produced from a gas containing 25–55% SO₂ was studied in order to evaluate the real efficiency of the catalytic post-reduction of sulfur dioxide in a pilot unit with gas flow rate of up to 1.2 nm³ h^–1 at the following temperatures (°C): thermal stage 850–1100, catalytic conversion 350–570, and Claus reactor 219–279. It was found that the conversion at 400–550°C and space velocity of 1600 h^–1 on AOK-78-57 promoted aluminum oxide catalyst provides full processing of organosulfur compounds (CS₂ and COS). The temperature dependence of the conversion/generation of hydrogen sulfide on AOK-78-57 catalyst corresponds to the equilibrium model. It was experimentally confirmed that the homogeneous reduction of sulfur dioxide gas with methane at T ≈ 1100°C, with catalytic post-reduction at 400–550°C and subsequent Claus-conversion of the reduced gas at 230–260°C, provide a sufficiently deep (by 92–95%) general processing of sulfur dioxide gas to sulfur.     

The thermal decomposition of aluminium sulfate

The mechanism of thermal decomposition of aluminum sulfate has been investigated in the 500–700°C temperature range using a flow reactor system with the emitted gaseous sulfur oxides collected in a Goksøyr—Ross coil and a hydrogen peroxide impinger. Sulfur trioxide (SO₃) was found to be the primary sulfur oxide released during thermal decomposition (1).

Less than 3% of the released sulfur oxides were sulfur dioxide (SO₂), indicating that the SO₃ dissociation reaction (2) is slow relative to the residence time of the SO₃ in the reactor (～ 1 sec).

The experimental technique should be readily adaptable to the study of the thermal decomposition of other metal sulfates.     

In-situ electrochemical study of chalcopyrite pressure oxidation leaching from 110 °C to 150 °C under saturated vapor pressure

Pressure oxidation leaching behavior of chalcopyrite in sulfuric acid solution from 110 °C to 150 °C were investigated by in-situ electrochemical methods. Leaching experiments under saturated vapor pressure conditions were used to simulate the anoxic environment that may be encountered in industrial applications. Scanning electron microscope and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to characterize the morphology and the chemical status of chalcopyrite surface. Results show that the copper extraction was increased with the increase of leaching temperature. Under the optimal leaching conditions under saturated vapor pressure, the copper and iron extraction are 8.3% and 29.8%, respectively. When the temperature increased from 110 °C to 150 °C, the self-corrosion potential and electrochemical reaction resistance firstly increased and then decreased. In contrast, the resistance of the passive film was always increased with the increase of temperature. The electrochemical study results indicated that the increase in temperature affected the oxidation of chalcopyrite by altering the kinetics of the cathodic reaction and the anodic passivation. Both the self-corrosion current density (i_corr) and rate constant were affected by the reduction of Fe(III). The XPS results show that elemental sulfur and H₃O(Fe₃(SO₄)₂(OH)₆) were the main leaching solid products. The formation of H₃O(Fe₃(SO₄)₂(OH)₆) not only caused a decrease in cathodic reaction kinetics, but also increased the resistance of mass transfer process. Due to the faster release of iron, copper-rich sulphides were formed, which mixed with the elemental sulfur and/or H₃O(Fe₃(SO₄)₂(OH)₆) led to coverage of the chalcopyrite surface.     

Novel hybrid process for the conversion of microcrystalline cellulose to value-added chemicals: part 1: process optimization

In this paper, a novel hybrid process for the treatment of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) under hot-compressed water was investigated by applying constant direct current on the reaction medium. Constant current range from 1A to 2A was applied through a cylindrical anode made of titanium to the reactor wall. Reactions were conducted using a specially designed batch reactor (450 mL) made of SUS 316 stainless steel for 30–120 min of reaction time at temperature range of 170–230 °C. As a proton donor H₂SO₄ was used at concentrations of 1–50 mM. Main hydrolysis products of MCC degradation in HCW were detected as glucose, fructose, levulinic acid, 5-HMF, and furfural. For the quantification of these products, High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Gas Chromatography with Mass Spectroscopy (GC–MS) were used. A ½ fractional factorial design with 2-level of four factors; reaction time, temperature, H₂SO₄ concentration and applied current with 3 center points were built and responses were statistically analyzed. Response surface methodology was used for process optimization and it was found that introduction of 1A current at 200 °C to the reaction medium increased Total Organic Carbon (TOC) and cellulose conversions to 62 and 81 %, respectively. Moreover, application of current diminished the necessary reaction temperature and time to obtain high TOC and cellulose conversion values and hence decreased the energy required for cellulose hydrolysis to value added chemicals. Applied current had diverse effect on levulinic acid concentration (29.9 %) in the liquid product (230 °C, 120 min., 2 A, 50 mM H₂SO₄).     

Evolved gas analysis of coal-derived pyrite/marcasite

The products evolved during the thermal decomposition of the coal-derived pyrite/marcasite were studied using simultaneous thermogravimetry coupled with Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and mass spectrometry (TG-FTIR–MS) technique. The main gases and volatile products released during the thermal decomposition of the coal-derived pyrite/marcasite are water (H₂O), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and sulfur dioxide (SO₂). The results showed that the evolved products obtained were mainly divided into two processes: (1) the main evolved product H₂O is mainly released at below 300 °C; (2) under the temperature of 450–650 °C, the main evolved products are SO₂ and small amount of CO₂. It is worth mentioning that SO₃ was not observed as a product as no peak was observed in the m/z = 80 curve. The chemical substance SO₂ is present as the main gaseous product in the thermal decomposition for the sample. The coal-derived pyrite/marcasite is different from mineral pyrite in thermal decomposition temperature. The mass spectrometric analysis results are in good agreement with the infrared spectroscopic analysis of the evolved gases. These results give the evidence on the thermal decomposition products and make all explanations have the sufficient evidence. Therefore, TG–MS–IR is a powerful tool for the investigation of gas evolution from the thermal decomposition of materials.     

Two forms of chemisorbed sulfur on platinum and related studies

The effect of temperature on the potentiodynamic oxidation of adsorbed sulfur layers on platinum, obtained from H₂S or SO₂ was studied. The broad oxidation peak at 1.2–1.3 V observed at room temperature is resolved at 80°C. Two distinct peaks are observed at 80°C, oxidation peak I (at 0.97 V) corresponding to the weakly bound sulfur and oxidation peak II (at 1.10 V) corresponding to the strongly bound sulfur. Evidence is adduced to show that these two forms of chemisorbed sulfur are distinguished by the number of platinum sites they occupy. At elevated temperatures an extension of the hydrogen region was observed during cathodic charging in the presence of adsorbed sulfur. This phenomenon was found to be reversible with respect to temperature and does not correspond to a desorption of sulfur.     

Struktur und thermisches Verhalten von Gadolinium(III)-sulfat-Octahydrat Gd2(SO4)3 · 8 H2O

Structure and Thermal Behaviour of Gadolinium(III)-sulfate-octahydrate Gd₂(SO₄)₃ · 8 H₂O . Gd₂(SO₄)₃ · 8 H₂O crystallizes monoclinic with space group C2/c and the lattice constants a = 13.531(7), b = 6.739(2), c = 18.294(7) Å, β = 102.20(8)°. In the structure Gd is coordinated by 4 oxygen atoms of crystal water and 4 oxygens of sulfate giving rise to a distorted square antiprism. During DTA-TG-experiments the title compound first loses crystal water in a two-step mechanism in the temperature range 130–306°C. The resulting Gd₂(SO₄)₃ is amorphous and recrystallization occurs in the range 380–411°C. The so-obtained low-temperature modification β-Gd₂(SO₄)₃, undergoes a monotropic phase transition at about 750°C to the high-temperature form α-Gd₂(SO₄)₃. The powder pattern of this modification was indexed based on monoclinic symmetry with space group C2/c and lattice constants a = 9.097(3), b = 14.345(5), c = 6.234(2) Å, β = 97.75(8)°. The hightemperature modification of gadolinium-sulfate shows decomposition to Gd₂O₂SO₄ at 900°C and, subsequently, decomposition at 1 200°C yields the formation of C-Gd₂O₃.     

Simultaneous removal of NO<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> and SO<Subscript>2</Subscript> by low-temperature selective catalytic reduction over modified activated carbon catalysts

A series of modified porous activated carbon (AC) catalysts prepared by impregnation were investigated for the low-temperature (≤250°C) selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO _x with NH₃ with simultaneous removal of SO₂. The effects of various preparation conditions and reaction conditions on NO and SO₂ conversions were observed, such as support type, active components, copper loading, calcination temperature and presence of H₂O and O₂. The modified AC catalysts were characterized by BET, XRD, TG and TPX methods. The activity test results showed that the optimal catalyst is 15% Cu/WCSAC which can provide 52% NO conversion and 68% SO₂ conversion simultaneously at 175°C with a space velocity of 30000 h^?1, and the optimal calcination temperature was 500°C. The presence of H₂O could inhibit NO conversion and promote the SO₂ conversion. The effect of O₂ (0–5%) was evaluated, and the NO and SO₂ conversions were best when the concentration of O₂ was 3%. Research demonstrated that Cu/WCSAC catalyst was a kind of potential catalysts due to the amorphous phase, high specific areas and high active ability.     

Thermal decomposition of SO4 2?-intercalated Mg–Al layered double hydroxide

The thermal properties of SO₄ ^2?-intercalated Mg?CAl layered double hydroxide (SO₄·Mg?CAl LDH) were investigated using simultaneous thermogravimetry?Cmass spectrometry (TG?CMS), and the elimination behavior of sulfur oxides from this double hydroxide was examined. The TG?CMS results showed that SO₄·Mg?CAl LDH decomposed in five stages. The first stage involved evaporation of surface-adsorbed water and interlayer water in SO₄·Mg?CAl LDH. In the second, third, and fourth stages, dehydroxylation of the brucite-like octahedral layers in SO₄·Mg?CAl LDH occurred. The fifth stage corresponded to the elimination of SO₄ ^2? intercalated in the interlayer of Mg?CAl LDH, producing SO₂ and SO₃. The thermal decomposition of SO₄·Mg?CAl LDH resulted in the formation of SO₂ and SO₃ at 900?C1000?°C, which then reacted with H₂O to form H₂SO₃ and H₂SO₄. The elimination of sulfur oxides increased with the decomposition time and temperature. Almost all of the intercalated SO₄ ^2? was desulfurized from SO₄·Mg?CAl LDH at 1000?°C; however, Mg?CAl oxide was not formed due to the production of MgO and MgAl₂O₄.     

Measurement of the relaxation transitions of nitrocellulose based gunpowder

The formation of a new sulfate compound K₄H₂(SO₄)₃ is obtained by evaporation at 25°C of an aqueous solution, which was formed by a mixture of K₂SO₄ and H₂SO₄. The characterization of this solid is carried out by X-ray diffraction, thermal and infrared analyzes. The heat treatment was carried out in interval 25–700°C; the end product of the thermal evolution is K₂SO₄. The vibration bands relating to SO₄ and OH groups were highlighted by the infrared spectroscopy.Moreover, one study of ionic conductivity on this solid compound was carried out according to the temperature in interval 25–80°C. Its activation energy is 0.47 eV. The X-ray intensities collection obtained on a monocrystal of K₄H₂(SO₄)₃ gives the following cell parameters: a=7.035(5), b=19.751(4), c=23.466(2) Å, β=95.25(1)°.     

Polymerization of butadiene sulfone

Polymerization of butadiene sulfone (BdSO₂) by various catalysts was studied. Azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN), butyllithium, tri-n-butylborn (n-Bu)₃B, boron trifluoride etherate, Ziegler catalyst, and γ-radiation were used as catalysts. Butadiene sulfone did not polymerize with these catalysts at low temperatures (below 60°C.), but polymers were obtained at high temperature with AIBN or (n-Bu)₃B. The polymerization of BdSO₂ initiated by AIBN in benzene at 80–140°C. was studied in detail. The obtained polymers were white, rubberlike materials and insoluble in organic solvents. The polymer composition was independent of monomer and initiator concentrations and reaction time. The sulfur content in polymer decreased with increasing polymerization temperature. The polymers prepared at 80 and 140°C. have the compositions (C₄H₆)_1.55- (SO₂) and (C₄H₆)_3.14(SO₂), respectively, and have double bonds. These polymers were not alternating copolymers of butadiene with sulfur dioxide. The polymerization mechanism was discussed from polymerization rate, polymer composition, and decomposition rate of BdSO₂. From these results, the polymerization was thought to be “decomposition polymerization,” i.e., butadiene and sulfur dioxide, formed by the thermal decomposition of BdSO₂, copolymerized.     

Effect of SO2 on the catalytic activity of SnO2 and CeO2 in methane oxidation

The variation of the catalytic activity of tin and cerium dioxides in the combustion of SO₂-containing methane has been investigated at SO₂ concentrations of 50 to 1000 ppm in the gas stream. The catalytic activity of SnO₂ decreases dramatically upon the introduction of SO₂, but it returns rapidly to its initial level and then remains invariable (95% conversion, operating temperature of 600°C). Cerium dioxide is much less resistant to poisoning with sulfur dioxide: the higher the SO₂ concentration in the gas stream, the larger the decrease in its activity. After sulfur dioxide is cut off, CeO₂ regains its initial activity at 750°C. The behaviors of SnO₂ and CeO₂ are in agreement with the thermal stabilities of the corresponding sulfates and oxosulfates.     

Copolymerization of Vinyl Chloride and Sulfur Dioxide. II. Copolymerization Rates and Copolymer Compositions

The rate of copolymerization of vinyl chloride (VC) with sulfur dioxide and the composition of the poly (vinyl chloride sulfone) formed have been measured for comonomer liquid mixtures with X_VC = 0.1 to 1.0 and over the temperature range -95 to +46°C.

Polymerization was initiated by γ-irradiation (-95 to +46°C) and with the t-butyl hydroperoxide/SO₂/methanol redox system (-95 to -18°C). The copolymerization rates and copolymer compositions indicated two distinct temperature regions, with a change in mechanism around 0°C. For radiation initiation below 0°C, the rate versus comonomer composition relationship showed a maximum at an x_VC value which increased with increasing temperature. Above 0°C, the rate decreased with increasing temperature and was greatly retarded by SO₂. No high molecular weight copolymer or VC homopolymer was formed on irradiation of comonomer mixtures above ～55°C.     

Spectrophotometric determination of thiocyanate via coprecipitation and thermal decomposition of copper(I) thiocyanate

A method for determination of thiocyanate (6–100 μg described. It is based on the coprecipitation of copper(I) thiocyanate with copper(I) iodide, followed by decomposition of copper(I) thiocyanate in air at 450°C. The decomposition products are CuS, CuO, SO₂, CO₂ and N₂. Released sulphur dioxide is absorbed in sodium tetrachloromercurate(II) solution, and determined spectrophotometrically with bleached p-rosaniline. The method is unaffected by the presence of halides, sulphide, sulphite and thiosulphate.     

Radiation-induced copolymerization of ethylene and sulfur dioxide in the liquid and gas phases

The radiation-induced copolymerization of ethylene and sulfur dioxide has been studied in the liquid and gas phases. In the liquid phase, the copolymer composition remained equimolar over a temperature range of 20–160°C. and ethylene pressures of 50–680 atm. The rate of copolymerization in the liquid phase at 680 atm. increased with temperature to a maximum value at ～80°C. Above this temperature the rate steadily decreased to zero at 157°C. because of temperature-dependent depropagation reactions. In the gas phase, copolymers were formed that contained from 9 to 46 mole-% sulfur dioxide. Under constant conditions of temperature, pressure, and radiation intensity, the copolymerization rate in the gas phase increased with increasing sulfur dioxide in the initial gas mixture. The propagating species for the liquid-phase experiments is considered to consist of an equimolar complex molecule of ethylene and sulfur dioxide. For gas mixtures containing an excess molar concentration of ethylene, the propagating species are ethylene and the complex molecule. Infrared spectra show polysulfone structures. Calorimetric and x-ray diffraction analyses indicate crystalline structures for copolymers in the range 9–50 mole-% sulfur dioxide, although a melt transition temperature could not be observed for copolymer containing >31 mole-% sulfur dioxide. Clear uniform film was obtained with copolymers containing up to 31 mole-% SO₂.     

Study on Apparent Kinetics of the Reaction between Sulfuric and Hydriodic Acids in the Iodine–Sulfur Process

The iodine–sulfur (IS) thermochemical process for hydrogen production is one of the most promising approaches in using high‐temperature process heat supplied by a nuclear reactor. This process includes three reactions that form a closed cycle: the Bunsen reaction, in which iodine, water, and sulfur dioxide react to form sulfuric acid and hydriodic acid (HI); HI decomposition; and sulfuric acid decomposition. However, the side reactions between H₂SO₄ and HI may disturb the operation of the IS closed cycle. For optimal process conditions, the reaction kinetics between H₂SO₄ and HI should be examined. In this work, a preliminary kinetic study was conducted. Using the initial reaction rate method, the kinetic parameters of the reaction between sulfuric acid and HI, such as the apparent reaction orders and rate constant were determined. For I^?, the apparent reaction order was approximately 1.77, whereas the orders for H⁺ and SO₄^2? were 7.78 and 1.29, respectively. The apparent rate constant at 85 ± 1°C was approximately 2.949 × 10^?11 min^?1 (mol/L)^?9.84. The H⁺ concentration had more significant influence on the reaction rate than those of SO₄^2? and I^?. Such basic data provide useful information for related process design and further kinetics study.     

Conductometric Determination of Sulfur Dioxide in Wine Using a Multipumping System Coupled to a Gas-Diffusion cell

A conductometric system with a multipumping module and a gas-diffusion cell has been developed to determine free and total sulfur dioxide (SO₂) in wine. The developed method has two protocols to determine both types of SO₂ using the same system. For free SO₂, sulfite is converted to H₂SO₄ by acidification and diffusion with H₂O₂ in an acceptor channel. The sample was previously hydrolyzed by mixing the sample with NaOH and heated at 70?°C prior making the determination of total SO₂ in order to break the bonds of the combined SO₂. Free and total SO₂ were determined in the ranges of 2.5–25.4 and 10.2–76.2?mg L^?1 with a sample throughput of 13 and 12?h^?1, respectively. The calibration curves of free and total SO₂ were in the range of ΔG (mS cm^?1)?=?(–1.0242?±?0.2871)?+?(0.6613?±?0.0201) [SO₂, mg L^?1], r² of 0.997 and ΔG (mS cm^?1)?=?(–0.5850?±?0.1678)?+?(0.1236?±?0.0033) [SO₂, mg L^?1], r² of 0.997. The proposed automated method is simple and easy to apply for the determination of SO₂ in wine using simple reagents.     

Evolved gas analyses on a mixed valence copper(I,II) complex salt with thiosulfate and ammonia by in situ TG-EGA-FTIR and TG/DTA-EGA-MS

Thermal decomposition of a mixed valence copper salt, Na₄[Cu(NH₃)₄][Cu(S₂O₃)₂]₂·0.5NH₃ (1) prepared from pentahydrates of sodium thiosulfate and copper sulphate of various molar ratios in 1:1 v/v aqueous ammonia solution, has been studied up to 1,000 °C in flowing air by simultaneous thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis coupled online with quadrupole mass spectrometer (TG/DTA-MS) and FTIR spectrometric gas cell (TG-FTIR), in comparison. Compound 1 releases first but very slowly some of the included ammonia till 170 °C, then simultaneously ammonia (NH₃) and sulphur dioxide (SO₂) from 175 to 225 °C, whilst the evolution of SO₂ from thiosulfate ligands continues in several overlapping stages until 410 °C, and is escorted by explicit exothermic heat effects at around 237, 260, 358 and 410 °C. The former two exothermic DTA-peaks correspond to the simultaneous degradation and air oxidation processes of excess thiosulfate anions not reacted by formation of copper sulfides (both digenite, Cu_1.8S and covellite, CuS, checked by XRD) and sodium sulfate, while the last two exothermic peaks are accompanied also by considerable mass gains, as the result of two-step oxidation of copper sulfides into various oxosulfates. The mass increase continues further on until 580 °C, when the sample mass begins to decrease slowly, as a continuous decomposition of the intermediate copper oxosulfates, indicated also by re-evolution of SO₂. At 1,000 °C, a residual mass value of 64.3% represents a stoichiometric formation of Cu^IIO and anhydrous Na₂SO₄.     

Controllable Synthesis of Covellite Nanoparticles via Thermal Decomposition Method

In this study, covellite (CuS) nanoparticles were synthesized through a facile and low temperature thermal decomposition method using [Cu(sal)₂]- oleylamine complex, (sal = salicylaldehydeato, prepared in situ from [Cu(sal)₂] and oleylamine as the precursors), and sulfur as the Cu²⁺ source and S source, respectively. Scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, electron diffraction and ultraviolet–visible absorption (UV–Vis) spectra were used for the characterization of the products. The effect of reaction parameters, such as the copper:sulfur molar ratio, the reaction temperature and the reaction time on the shape, size and phase of CuS nanostructures, was investigated. The results showed that the, covellite (hexagonal structure of CuS) with an average size between 20 and 45 nm could be obtained with the Cu:S molar ratio of 1: 3 at 105 °C for 60 min. With increasing the reaction temperature from 105 to 200 °C, non-stoichiometric Cu_1.65S with the average size of 25–50 nm was obtained due to the different existing state of the released Cu²⁺ ions from the copper-oleylamine complex.     

Kristallstruktur,Phasenumwandlung und Kaliumionenleitfähigkeit von Kaliumtrifluormethylsulfonat

Crystal Structure, Phase Transition, and Potassium Ion Conductivity of Potassium Trifluoromethanesulfonate According to the results of temperature dependent powder diffractometry (Guinier‐Simon‐technique) potassium trifluoromethanesulfonate is dimorphic. The phase transition occurs between –63 °C and –45 °C. The low‐temperature modification crystallizes monoclinic with a = 10.300(3) Å, b = 6.052(1) Å, c = 14.710(4) Å, β = 111.83(2)° (–120 °C) and the room‐temperature modification with a = 10.679(5) Å, b = 5.963(2) Å, c = 14.624(5) Å, β = 111.57(3)°, Z = 6, P2₁. According to single crystal structure determination, potassium trifluoromethanesulfonate consists of three different potassium‐oxygen‐coordination polyhedra, linked by sulfur atoms of the trifluoromethanesulfonate groups. This results in a channel structure with all lipophilic trifluoromethane groups pointing into these channels. By means of DSC, the transition temperature and enthalpy have been determined to be –33 °C and 0.93 ± 0.03 kJ/mol, respectively. The enthalpy of melting (237 °C) for potassium trifluoromethanesulfonate is 13.59 kJ/mol, the potassium ionic conductivity is 3.68 · 10^–6 Scm^–1 at 205 °C.