Sulfuric acid production process flow sheet

Elemental sulfur (or other sulfur-containing ore) is first burned in air to form hot sulfur dioxide gas. The hot gas is cooled to about 400°C (752°F) in a waste heat boiler and then, in a catalyst tower, passed through 2 to 4 stages of platinum or vanadium catalyst to form SO3 gas.

The catalytic reaction generates a lot of heat and is reversible. The catalyst tower is, therefore, arranged with