UTILIZATION OF SULFUR SLUDGE RESULTS FROM THE MANUFACTURING OF SULFURIC ACID IN A FILTER AID PRODUCTION

Abstract

Sulfuric acid manufacture generates huge quantity of sulfur sludge causing major environmental problems in their storage and disposal. On the other hand, molten sulfur should be filtered for sulfuric acid production to remove solids that may plug sulfur spray nozzles or accumulate on catalyst beds that increasing the pressure drop and decreasing operating durations. In this study, attempts were carried out using sulfur sludge wastes a filler in the manufacturing of filter aid. The filter aid using sulfur sludge is compared with the other filter aids such as Kessel Gohar diatomite (global product) and ABU ZAABLE 12 “AB12” (local product). Results showed that the prepared filter aid using sulfur sludge as filler decreases the ash content in filtrated sulfur than Kessel Gohar diatomite and AB12 with a ratio of about 26.4% and 39.4%, respectively, and thus results in increasing the operating durations due to decreasing the amount of ash deposited in the catalyst beds compared with filter aids of Kessel Gohar diatomite and AB12 with a ratio of about 25.2% and 39.4% respectively. On the other hand, sulfur sludge filter aid also improves filter operating duration than Kessel Gohar diatomite and AB12 with a ratio of about -1.2% and 32.4% respectively. Finally, sulfur sludge filler in manufacturing of filter aid can be used as a reusable material without any change on the ash content in filtrated sulfur and filter operating duration.