Section: CRUSU Market & Features

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

Processed phosphates pricing will be a major influence in the coming months. A gap remains between historical levels of sulphur and DAP pricing that points to the potential for sulphur prices to recover to higher levels during 2023.

Fluor demonstrates how SRU/TGTU plants within sour gas facilities can facilitate the capture of CO2 and generate H2 by implementing advanced sulphur recovery technologies.

When candle filter mist eliminators installed in the absorption towers in sulphuric acid plants are not sufficiently wet, problems can occur such as free SO3 at the stack, NOx issues and emission non-compliance. Begg Cousland Envirotec discusses how these problems can be overcome by the installation of an annular wetting ring solution.

Industry turnover is a reality, and keeping new employees informed of hydrogen safety procedures in sulphuric acid plants is key to keeping plants fully operational and incident free. Elessent Clean Technologies discusses the steps facilities need to take to prevent hydrogen incidents.

Last year saw global trade in all commodities have to take into account the potential loss of supply from Russia, a key exporter of many commodities. Sulphur was no exception, with prices swinging wildly across the year.

Last year attention was drawn to the potential for large scale decarbonisation to leave the world short of the key resources of sulphur, and hence sulphuric acid. But is there a global sulphur shortage on the distant horizon?

The world has seen a number of hydrogen explosions in double absorption plants mostly in the intermediate absorption tower (IAT). To review this increase and to determine the causes, an International Hydrogen Safety Workgroup was formed including major acid plant contractors, major acid producers, and consultants in the sulphuric acid arena. Davis & Associates Consulting explores some of the findings.

CO2 emission abatement strategies have become increasingly important as the world strives to combat global climate change. RATE discusses carbon capture options available for sulphur recovery units.

Sulphur run-down lines are typically sized by referencing past projects and ‘rules of thumb’. Very little analysis is performed to identify the impacts of slope, fittings, valves, etc. It is critical to maintain an open vapour path from the condenser to the sealing device. CSI has observed problems in the field which appear to be caused by undersized run-down lines and has developed a method of predicting the liquid level in a run-down line that considers the most common elements.