SULFUR INDUSTRY

Sulfur is one of the most important elements used in various types of experiments. Just like any other element, it can be derived into various compounds such as, carbon disulfide (CS), sodium hydrosulfide (NaSH), sulfur chloride and sulfuric acid. Sulfur Products are used in numerous applications in the chemical, textile, photo, rubber, mining, agriculture, paper, construction and cosmetic industries.

USES OF SULFUR
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About 90% of sulfur produced or extracted is used to make sulfur dioxide. Majority of the acid is used for the production of phosphate fertilizers. Sulfur, in its free element state can also be used as a soil nutrient. Sulfur is beginning to be used as a component of infrastructure band structural materials. *adding sulfur pellets to asphalt can make roads more durable from the temperature drop. *sulfur can also be added to concrete making the concrete easier to paint.

MANUFACTURE OF SULFUR majority of sulfur comes from natural gas and oil. sulfur also has to be removed if the natural gas or oil is to be used as fuels. *(sulfur being a very dangerous pollutant.) The organic sulfur compounds are converted to hydrogen sulfide by reduction with hydrogen. For example:

Hydrogen sulfide gas is separated from other gases present by dissolving it in an aqueous solution of an organic base, such as, for example, 2aminoethanol (monoethanolamine). Although this is a complex process, the following equation shows the overall reaction:

Figure 1 Much natural gas and oil contain large quantities of hydrogen sulfide and organic sulfur compounds which must be removed to produce gas and oil which can be used as fuels. They are converted into elemental sulfur which is heated so that it becomes molten and then piped into large moulds where it solidifies. It is stored in the open until it is used to make sulfuric acid. This photo shows sulfur recovered in the immense Lacq field in southwestern France where the gas is very 'sour', containing 16% hydrogen sulfide.

Heating the solution of the salt liberates pure hydrogen sulfide and regenerates the amine. Hydrogen sulfide is then burned with a limited amount of air to give sulfur dioxide, sulfur and water vapour, and unreacted hydrogen sulfide:

The sulfur is condensed and separated. The remaining gases are passed over a catalyst bed of alumina to convert more hydrogen sulfide to sulfur:

These two stages are repeated in three separate cycles to achieve over 95% recovery of sulfur.

CLAUS PROCESS
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The Claus process is the most significant gas desulfurizing process, recovering elemental sulfur from gaseous hydrogen sulfide. First patented in 1883 by the scientist Carl Friedrich Claus, the Claus process has become the industry standard. Gases with an H2S content of over 25% are suitable for the recovery of sulfur in straight-through Claus plants In fact, the vast majority of the 64,000,000 metric tons of sulfur produced worldwide in 2005 was byproduct sulfur from refineries and other hydrocarbon processing plants.

Figure 2. The common flowchart for sulfur production.(Claus process) HEALTH BENEFITS Sulfur has elements that can eliminate acne, so it is included in their treatments. Medications for dandruff, pityriasis versicolor rosacea and warts have this ingredient. Seborrheic dermatitis and scabies can be treated with this element. Sulfur is effective because of its keratolytic, antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. Combining alcohol and sulfur can be used to treat acne and other skin disorders.
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Solutions with sulfur can be used to accelerate the healing of wounds. Sulfur can be used to treat hemorrhoids, arthritis, hypothyroidism and homeopathy.

SOURCES: http://www.essentialchemicalindustry.org/chemicals/sulfur.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claus_process http://www.premen.ru/en/content/gas/util/sulfur/ http://2.bp.blogspot.com/rE4NnASeIck/T573JCJ_UtI/AAAAAAAAAXA/THU1BlioFwM/s1600/Where_Heav en_Meets_Hell_Purnomo_mining_for_sulfur.jpg