Contact+Process

Andrew Echevarria,Kyoung Min Kim, Jimmy Park Ms. Petty Chemistry Class

The following reactions are involved: S + O 2 ---> SO 2 2SO 2 + O 2 > 2 SO3

Contact Process

The contact process is a method of producing sulfuric acid, which is used in many modern industries. In short, Sulfuric dioxide and oxygen are passed over a hot catalyst, resulting in the creation of the substance; sulfur trioxide. This substance proceeds to become sulfuric acid upon combination with water.

The contact-process can be divided into three phase: 1. Preperation and Purification of Sulfur Dioxide 2. Catalytic oxidation (using vanadium pentoxide catalyst) of sulfur dioxide to sulfur trioxide 3. Conversion of sulfur trioxide to sulfuric acid

The first phase involves the purification of air and SO 2 to avoid catalyst poisoning. First, both substances (SO 2 and air) are cleaned by electrostatic precipitation, then dried, then heated to 400*C - 500*C, and finally compressed to 200 atmospheres.

Once the purification is over, the second phase can occur. The mixture of gases is passed over the catalyst Vanadium (V) oxide and within this process, oxygen and sulphur dioxide combine to form sulfur trioxide ( SO3 ).

When obtaining Sulfur trioxide, the final phase of converting it into sulfuric acid can begin.The Sulfur trioxide is dissolved in concentrated sulphuric acid to create Oleum (H2S2O7). Then Oleum reacts with water to form sulphuric acid.

IB Chemistry Paper 2 in the file