Section: CRUSU Market & Features

BASF is challenging traditional catalyst shapes and performance relationships using 3D-printing technology and is using sulphuric acid catalysts as the pilot to pioneer new ground.

Sulfur Recovery Engineering shares the lessons learned from an emergency shutdown of an MCRC sulphur recovery unit in the middle of a cold Canadian winter.

Liquid fuels will be with us for decades to come, but refiners will be pushed to decarbonise their activities, via greater use of biofuels, and green/blue hydrogen use.

The sulphuric acid process is virtually carbon free and, as such, it is important to consider the energy requirements of the associated industrial complex before deciding upon what form the energy should be exported from the acid plant. In this article, Stefan Braeuner, Stefan Mohsler and Anne Mohsler of Metso Outotec use case studies to exemplify the need to fully analyse the local conditions at site before a decision is taken on a specific flowsheet.

Lithium sulphur batteries have many advantages over conventional lithium ion batteries in terms of energy density, and they also avoid the use of costly cobalt, but they deteriorate rapidly and cannot be recharged as frequently. However, recent advances in Li-S batteries could overcome this problem and lead to widespread adoption.

Most processes involving sulphur, from smelting to refining, produce sulphur dioxide as a by-product. Regulations continue to tighten on industrial SO2 emissions worldwide, leading to greater recovery of sulphur and sulphuric acid at these sites.

Meena Chauhan , Head of Sulphur and Sulphuric Acid Research, Argus Media, assesses price trends and the market outlook for sulphur.

China has been the major market for base metals, including copper, nickel, lead and zinc over the past two decades as the country rapidly industrialised. But with China’s growth slowing due to demographics and market saturation, where are metals markets and production of/demand for sulphuric acid likely to go next?

Chinese domestic sulphur supply growth remains strong. Production is expected to rise in 2023, putting pressure on import demand potential. In 2022 total imports were 7.6 million tonnes, with a stable view for the year ahead.

SulGas, South Asia’s sulphur recovery and gas treating conference, returned to a live event in 2023, providing participants with a platform to interact with experts in the field, share best practices and troubleshooting tips with fellow refiners and discuss advanced technologies and operating procedures with technology providers, vendors and licensors.