Liquid sulfur dioxide production method based on sulfur and oxygen. R&D of economically feasible method

The article shows the relevance of the industrial production of liquid sulfur dioxide, as well as the fields of its application. Herewith there is provided a brief description of the known methods for the production of liquid sulfur dioxide: the use of roast gas; sulfur-oleum method; multi-stage condensation; low temperature cryogenic process; oxidation of sulfur with oxygen under its stoichiometric deficiency. In the course of the analysis, the main shortcomings of the considered methods were identified, which made it possible to develop an innovative version of the process scheme. Based on the data obtained, JSC “NIUIF” has developed and patented a method for producing liquid sulfur dioxide, the main raw material of which is sulfur and oxygen under its stoichiometric deficiency. The principal difference of the proposed industrial scheme is the use of technical oxygen instead of air blast and the use of a sulfur furnace and a sulfur vapor condenser combined in one housing in the apparatus scheme. The proposed solution significantly reduces energy consumption and eliminates the possibility of liquid sulfur crystallizing inside the equipment. Therefore, this scheme can be considered more reliable and reasonable in comparison with the existing ones. Also, in the process scheme of the developed unit, the production of 1 ton of liquid sulfur dioxide consumes significantly less energy than in the existing technologies. To determine the design parameters of the equipment and master the processes, the article describes a lab unit for producing liquid sulfur dioxide, developed and already installed at JSC "NIUIF". At the moment, experiments are carried out at the facility for the purpose of adjusting the operation mode and collecting the physical and chemical process data.