sulfuric acid
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CT: Researchers of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and their European partners plan to develop an innovative sulfur-based storage system for solar power. Large-scale chemical storage of solar power and its overnight use as a fuel are to be achieved by means of a closed sulfur-sulfuric acid cycle. In the long term, this might be the basis of an economically efficient renewable energy source capable of providing base-load power. The pre-development work under the PEGASUS project will be funded by the EU with about EUR 4.7 million.
“Solar power plants effectively capture process heat and sulfur might be a suitable storage material to use this power for base-load electricity production,” Professor Dimosthenis Trimis of KIT’s Engler-Bunte Institute says. Sulfur and sulfuric acid are used in many industrial applications. Numerous chemical processes have already been established for e.g. vulcanization, sulfuric acid production, or flue gas desulfurization. “To use the combustion of sulfur as a sustainable energy source on an industrial scale, we already have a large kit of process technologies.”

S: Phys.org – https://phys.org/news/2017-05-sulfur-solar-energy.html (last access: 17 November 2017)

N: 1. – sulphuric (adj): “pertaining to, or obtained from “sulfur” (sulfur- from Anglo-French sulfere, Old French soufre: sulfur, fire and brimstone, hellfire, later also sulphur, from Late Latin sulfur, from Latin sulphur, probably from a root meaning “to burn”; 1970 known as sulphuric from French sulfurique) and prefix “-ic” (Middle English -ik, -ick, word-forming element making adjectives, “having to do with, having the nature of, being, made of, caused by, similar to,” from French -ique and directly from Latin -icus or cognate Greek -ikos “in the manner of; pertaining to”; in chemistry, indicating a higher valence).
– acid (n): from French acide, or directly from Latin acidus “sour, sharp, tart”.
Molecular formula: H2SO4.
2. Sulfuric acid is a colorless oily liquid. It is soluble in water with release of heat. It is corrosive to metals and tissue. It will char wood and most other organic matter on contact, but is unlikely to cause a fire. Density 15 lb / gal. Long term exposure to low concentrations or short term exposure to high concentrations can result in adverse health effects from inhalation. It is used to make fertilizers and other chemicals, in petroleum refining, in iron and steel production, and for many other uses. This very strong acid; in aqueous solutions it ionizes completely to form hydronium ions (H3O+) and hydrogen sulfate ions (HSO4−). In dilute solutions the hydrogen sulfate ions also dissociate, forming more hydronium ions and sulfate ions (SO42−). In addition to being an oxidizing agent, reacting readily at high temperatures with many metals, carbon, sulfur, and other substances, concentrated sulfuric acid is also a strong dehydrating agent, combining violently with water; in this capacity, it chars many organic materials, such as wood, paper, or sugar, leaving a carbonaceous residue
3. Main Routes of Exposure:

  • Inhalation: Can kill a person. Not expected to be an inhalation hazard unless heated or misted. This can produce severe irritation of the nose and throat. Can cause life-threatening accumulation of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema). Symptoms may include coughing, shortness of breath, difficult breathing and tightness in the chest. Long-term damage may result from a severe short-term exposure.
  • Skin Contact: Corrosive. Contact can cause pain, redness, burns, and blistering. Permanent scarring can result. A severe exposure can cause death.
  • Eye Contact: Corrosive. Contact causes severe burns with redness, swelling, pain and blurred vision. Permanent damage including blindness can result.
  • Ingestion: Can burn the lips, tongue, throat and stomach. Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhea. Permanent damage can result. Can cause death.
  • Effects of Long-Term (Chronic) Exposure: At low concentrations: Can cause dry, red, cracked skin (dermatitis) following skin contact. At high concentrations: May wear away tooth enamel when breathed in. May harm the respiratory system. Can irritate and inflame the airways.
  • Carcinogenicity: Not known to cause cancer. Strong inorganic mists containing sulfuric acid are carcinogenic to humans. Has been associated with: cancer of the larynx, lung cancer.

4. The process to produce sulfuric acid has four stages:

  • extraction of sulfur;
  • conversion of sulfur to sulfur dioxide;
  • conversion of sulfur dioxide to sulfur trioxide;
  • conversion of sulfur trioxide to sulfuric acid.

5. To convert sulfuric acid in these previous mentioned acids there are two types of processes to obtain it:

  • In the lead chamber process hot sulfur dioxide gas enters the bottom of a reactor called a Glover tower where it is washed with nitrous vitriol and mixed with nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide gases; some of the sulfur dioxide is oxidized to sulfur trioxide and dissolved in the acid wash to form tower acid or Glover acid (about 78% H2SO4). From the Glover tower a mixture of gases (including sulfur dioxide and trioxide, nitrogen oxides, nitrogen, oxygen, and steam) is transferred to a lead-lined chamber where it is reacted with more water. Sulfuric acid is formed by a complex series of reactions; it condenses on the walls and collects on the floor of the chamber.
  • In the contact process, purified sulfur dioxide and air are mixed, heated to about 450°C, and passed over a catalyst; the sulfur dioxide is oxidized to sulfur trioxide. The catalyst is usually platinum on a silica or asbestos carrier or vanadium pentoxide on a silica carrier. The sulfur trioxide is cooled and passed through two towers. In the first tower it is washed with oleum (fuming sulfuric acid, 100% sulfuric acid with sulfur trioxide dissolved in it). In the second tower it is washed with 97% sulfuric acid; 98% sulfuric acid is usually produced in this tower. Waste gases are usually discharged into the atmosphere. Acid of any desired concentration may be produced by mixing or diluting the products of this process.

S: 1. OED – https://goo.gl/disr7J; https://goo.gl/EcqezC; https://goo.gl/TzP3XL; https://goo.gl/Pu6rEg (last access: 17 November 2017). 2. PubChem – https://goo.gl/MCbHKJ (last access: 16 November 2017); EncBrit – https://goo.gl/1czg2G (last access: 16 November 2017). 3. CCOHS – https://goo.gl/qooqDk (last access: 17 November 2017). 4 & 5. ENCY – https://goo.gl/nBBtHk (last access: 17 November 2017).

OV: sulphuric acid (UK)

S: GDT – http://www.granddictionnaire.com/ficheOqlf.aspx?Id_Fiche=2295724 (last access: 17 November 2017)

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CR: acidogenesis , nitric acid, sodium, sulfur dioxide.