SO₂ Emission Reduction through the use of the “Humid Oxidation Process”

BAYER A.G. in Germany developed the “HUMID OXIDATION PROCESS” to reduce SO₂ emissions which was first implanted industrially in their factory at Uerdingen in 1981. From that time the plant has operated successfully complying to German environmental law requirements. The unit to be installed in TIBRÁS consists of six reactors supplied with activated carbon beds which will remove the SO₂ (0.11 volume percent) contained in the residual gases (150,000 cubic meters per hour) produced in three rotary calciner kilns. The SO₂ reacts with water in the carbon pores forming diluted sulfuric acid. The activated carbon is fabricated from coke from peat. The “Weak Acid” of approximately 10 to 15 per-cent H₂SO₄ concentration is reused in the titanium dioxide pigment process. The project will be concluded by December 1993 and will start up in January 1994. The realization of this investment of approximately US$8,500,000 (eight and one half million dollars) will reduce TIBRÁS SO₂ emissions by 50 (fifty) to 85 (eighty-five) per-cent in addition to eliminating two stacks.