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Title: Oxidation of sulfur by oxygen in presence of hydrogen chloride

Journal Article · · J. Appl. Chem. USSR (Engl. Transl.); (United States)
OSTI ID:5829260

It is believed that sulfur trioxide is formed first during the combustion of sulfur, because the change of Gibbs energy during its formation has a larger negative value than its change during formation of sulfur dioxide. Subsequently the SO/sub 3/ decomposes under the influence of high temperature, or interacts with sulfur to form sulfur dioxide. In order to prevent these undesirable processes it was recommended to cool the combustion gases or to introduce a substance binding sulfur trioxide into the reaction mixture, thereby preventing its interaction with sulfur. Hydrochloric acid, which can form chlorosulfonic acid with sulfur trioxide, was used for this purpose. We accordingly examined the thermodynamics and studied the kinetics of sulfur oxidation by oxygen in presence of HCl in wide ranges of temperature, component concentrations, and reaction time. The influence of HCl on the yield of sulfur trioxide during oxidation of sulfur by oxygen is not determined by simple interaction of SO/sub 3/ with HCl, but involves formation of CL/sub 2/, which oxidizes the SO/sub 2/ formed to sulfonyl chloride at the stage of cooling of the reaction mixture; the sulfonyl chloride is then hydrolyzed by water to H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/ and HCl. In order to raise the SO/sub 3/ yield, oxidation of sulfur in presence of HCl must be conducted in presence of a catalyst active in the reaction of CL/sub 2/ formation.

OSTI ID:
5829260
Journal Information:
J. Appl. Chem. USSR (Engl. Transl.); (United States), Vol. 61:6; Other Information: Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Khimii; 61: No. 6, 1226-1231(Jun 1988)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English