Study of Sulfur Purification from Bituminous Material in The Mishraq Sulfur Mine Using Acidic Sulfur Waste (Foam)

Abstract

In conclusion, the sulfur wastes obtained from chemical and thermal methods for sulfur purification in the Mashreq field has been present for decades in significant quantities, approaching two million tons, with its harmful impact on the environment. Our research focused on using a different approach by utilizing the acidic sulfur wastes (foam) as a source of sulfuric acid and elemental sulfur containing bituminous materials. The goal was to make use of the sulfuric acid present in the sulfur wastes to oxidize bituminous materials. This was achieved by mixing various proportions of elemental sulfur at a temperature of 150-160 °C to achieve the best viscosity while monitoring chemical and spectroscopic changes using SEM, XRD, and FTIR devices. The aim was to eliminate the negative effects of bituminous and acidic materials and repurpose sulfur wastes, converting it into economically and scientifically valuable materials. The filtration of molten elemental sulfur from foam was conducted using a specially designed metal filter for the filtration process, along with the use of a filtration aid. This process successfully recovered 81% of the elemental sulfur, and the results met the Iraqi Standard Specification 2199.