Sulfur dioxide
Sulfur dioxide is a colorless gas with a pungent smell.
| |
| Health hazard | 3 |
|---|---|
| Flammability | 0 |
| Reactivity | 0 |
Uses
Used in the sulfite process for making wood pulp to be used in paper production.
Production
Sulfur dioxide can be found naturally from volcanic activity.
Modern and early production of sulfur dioxide comes from pyrite roasting, a process in which you would crush the pyrite to reduce the surface area using a mill or hammer. Next you roast the pyrite in a brick furnace or simple smelter at temperatures of 500–700°C. Pyrite is placed on trays within the heating apparatus as oxygen is allowed to flow through or over the hot pyrite. As it heats, the sulfur in the pyrite oxidizes and is released as sulfur dioxide gas. This also produces iron oxide as a waste product. The sulfur dioxide would then be redirected using a brick or metal channel into another chamber for collection. Allowing the Sulfur dioxide to pass through water allows for the production of sulfurous acid.
Reaction
4FeS2+11O2→2Fe2O3+8SO2