Ammonia → Sulfuric Acid

Participants

Reaction Steps

Scrubbing of the ammonia from the gas stream 22 is effected by spraying an aqueous sulfuric acid solution from nozzles 30 into the conduits 18 where the acid reacts with the ammonia to produce an aqueous solution of ammonium sulfate according to the reaction 2NH3+H2SO4→(NH4)2SO4. Nozzles 30 are in fluid communication via piping 32 with a reservoir 34 holding the sulfuric acid solution. A pump 36 may be used to convey the acid solution to the nozzles. An acid reservoir 37 is in fluid communication with reservoir 34 via piping 38, the acid reservoir being used to replenish the reservoir 34 as acid is consumed in the reaction. A pump 40 may be used to effect acid transfer from the acid reservoir 37 to the reservoir 34. A storage reservoir 42 is also in fluid communication with the reservoir 34 via piping 32. During operation of the scrubbing device 10, liquid effluent from the scrubbing process, comprised of aqueous ammonium sulfate and unreacted sulfuric acid, is collected in an effluent basin 44 located in the plenum 16 beneath the conduits 18. Effluent basin 44 is in fluid communication with the reservoir 34 via piping 46. The ammonium sulfate solution and the unreacted sulfuric acid are returned to reservoir 34. As described in detail below, this dilutes the sulfuric acid content in reservoir 34 and increases the concentration of ammonium sulfate. When the concentration of ammonium sulfate reaches a desired limit, the contents of the reservoir are pumped, not to the nozzles 30, but to the storage reservoir 42. The reservoir 34 may then be replenished with the aqueous sulfuric acid solution and the process of ammonia scrubbing resumed.

Provenance & Evidence