Research on possible sulfuric acid (H2SO4) production using sulfur/sulfur-containing feedstocks from Dung Quat refinery

Abstract

This paper analyses the possibility for H2SO4 production using sulfur/sulfur-containing feedstocks from Dung Quat Refinery in terms of market, technology and economic efficiency. Domestic production of H2SO4 currently does not meet the domestic demand, the shortfall must therefore be compensated by imports. It is forecast that the domestic market will lack about 464 thousand tons of H2SO4 by 2025. The H2SO4 production project with a capacity of 200 thousand tons per year is proposed to go into operation in 2025. In the case of indirect production of H2SO4 from H2S rich gas through the intermediate sulfur product, the project has an estimated total investment cost of USD 143.2 million, its IRR will be around 3.2%, its NPV@13.2% will be USD 55.1 million and the total payback period will be 14 years and 4 months. In case of using H2S rich gas directly as feedstock, the project has an estimated total investment cost of USD 102.4 million, its IRR will be around 16.3%, its NPV@13.2% will be USD 15.7 million and the total payback period will be 5 years and 5 months.