Sulphuric Acid - NEWS
Updated January 5, 2024

2013

Outotec wins €100m orders in Turkey
Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund To Acquire General Chemical For US$860 Mln
Foster Wheeler wins engineering deal in Chile for new molybdenum refinery
Mosaic to buy CF Industries’ phosphate business for $1.2-billion
Namibia: Rössing Signs New Sulphuric Acid Supply Contract
FACT keen to host sulphuric acid plant in Kochi
China may import more copper due to sulphuric acid build up
Breen Energy Launches Sulfuric Acid Dewpoint Monitor AbSensor-ADM Used in Oil- and Gas-Fired Applications
Three injured in acid spill at Doe Run Smelting Plant in Herculaneum
Acid Spill Results in Temporary Road Closure near Superior
Sterlite Industries' sulphur dioxide emissions within limits: Test report
Sulfuric chemical spills in downtown Provo
New 1,500 ton sulphur storage tank completed

Jacobs awarded design work on Chinese sulfuric acid regeneration plant

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Outotec wins €100m orders in Turkey

December 27, 2013 - Outotec will deliver technology and services worth more than €100m to Cengiz Group for its Mazidagi and Samsun operations in Turkey. The orders include a roasting plant for pyrite concentrates, calcine leaching and solvent extraction plants, copper smelter modernization, as well as gas cleaning and sulfuric acid plants. The orders will be booked in Outotec's 2013 fourth quarter order intake.

Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund To Acquire General Chemical For US$860 Mln

Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Parsippany, New Jersey-based General Chemical Holding Company for US$860 million in cash, subject to certain adjustments. General Chemical is a North American manufacturer of a broad portfolio of inorganic chemical products with three business units: Water Treatment Chemicals, Sulphuric Acid and Specialty Chemicals. The business operates 45 facilities across the United States and Canada, and employs approximately 540 people. For the last twelve months ended September 30, 2013, General Chemical generated total revenue of US$390 million and Adjusted EBITDA of US$110 million. On a pro forma basis, the transaction is approximately 17% accretive to Chemtrade's distributable cash per unit for the twelve month period ended September 30, 2013. Following closing of the deal, Chemtrade intends to maintain its current annual distribution rate of C$1.20 per unit.

Foster Wheeler wins engineering deal in Chile for new molybdenum refinery

December 3, 2013 - Foster Wheeler will undertake detailed engineering and provide procurement assistance and field engineering services for the new refinery, which is planned to process and refine 16,000 tpy of molybdenum feedstock and yield molybdenum as well as copper, rhenium and sulfuric acid. Foster Wheeler was awarded a contract for engineering, procurement and related services on a grassroots molybdenum refinery in Chile, the company said on Tuesday. The contract was awarded by MOLYB Ltd., an affiliate company of CODELCO, the Chilean Copper Corp., the world's largest copper producing company and also a leading molybdenum concentrate producer. The new facility, planned to be one of the largest of its kind, will be located near Mejillones in northern Chile. The terms of the award were not disclosed. The contract value was included in the company's third-quarter 2013 bookings. Foster Wheeler will undertake detailed engineering and provide procurement assistance and field engineering services for the new refinery, which is planned to process and refine 16,000 tpy of olybdenum feedstock, obtained from various CODELCO copper concentrator plants, expected to yield molybdenum as well as copper, rhenium and sulfuric acid as by-products. Molybdenum and rhenium are used in electronics, special steels, petroleum refineries and the aerospace industry. Foster Wheeler’s scope of work is scheduled to be completed during the second quarter of 2015. “This latest award is a further important step in the extension of our Minerals and Metals track record and in the further development of our already excellent working relationship with CODELCO,” said Dave Lawson, president of minerals and metals for Foster Wheeler. “This award reflects CODELCO's continued confidence in the quality of our technical expertise in minerals processing and our project execution," he added.

Mosaic to buy CF Industries’ phosphate business for $1.2-billion

October 28, 2013 - Mosaic Co. said on Monday that it would buy the phosphate business of fellow U.S. fertilizer company CF Industries Holdings Inc for $1.2-billion in cash. Shares of Mosaic, the world’s biggest producer of finished phosphate products, rose 1.7 per cent to $46.75 in trading before the market opened, while CF was up 2.7 per cent at $215.32. Minnesota-based Mosaic will acquire the South Pasture phosphate mine and plant, a phosphate manufacturing plant and ammonia terminal and warehouse facilities, all in Florida. The facilities produce about 1.8 million tonnes of phosphate fertilizer per year, topping up the annual 8.2 million tonnes produced by Mosaic and adding about 30 cents per share to its 2015 earnings, the company said. Mosaic will also commit $200-million to cover the closure and long-term care of phosphogypsum stacks under CF’s Florida operations. The deal signals Illinois-based CF’s increased focus on its core nitrogen fertilizer products and comes after Mosaic has said it was looking to increase its production of phosphate, one of three critical crop nutrients. Mosaic stock has been under pressure this year because of weakness in the global price of the crop nutrient potash, of which the company is the second-biggest North American producer. CF will supply Mosaic with 1 million tonnes a year of ammonia, a nitrogen product used in making finished phosphate products. This will allow Mosaic to scrap its plans to build a $1.1-billion ammonia manufacturing plant in Faustina, Louisiana.

Namibia: Rössing Signs New Sulphuric Acid Supply Contract

September 27, 2013 - Rössing Uranium limited Has entered into a long term sulphuric acid supply agreement with Dundee Precious Metals Tsumeb (Pty) Ltd, a subsidiary of Dundee Precious Metals Inc. (DPM), which is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. The supply agreement of about 225 000 tonnes of sulphuric acid annually is expected to bolster local economic benefits. The acid will be transported by rail from Tsumeb to Swakopmund by TransNamib. It is expected that shipments to Rössing will start during the fourth quarter of 2014. Rössing is currently importing its sulphuric acid for ore processing through the Port of Walvis Bay, from where it is railed to the mine site. The Dundee Precious Metals supply agreement, with a validity of a minimum term of five years, provides Rössing with an attractive market-linked pricing formula and provides certainty to both parties, protecting Rössing from surges in market pricing and sheltering DPM from prices falling below a reasonable economic threshold. The Tsumeb plant is expected to produce between 230 000 and 320 000 tonnes of sulphuric acid annually. Only the balance of what Rössing uses in sulphuric acid beyond what Dundee Precious Metals provides will be imported from outside Namibia. It is widely acknowledged that procurement spending in the mining industry is significant. This agreement alone has the potential to boost local production and promote enterprise development. Rössing spent N$2.2 billion in 2012 on goods and services of which about N$1.5 billion (or 63 percent of the total spend) was allocated to Namibian registered suppliers. "The idea of Rössing purchasing sulphuric acid from the Dundee smelter should therefore be applauded in the context of sourcing mining inputs from local suppliers. Apart from living up to the objectives of Vision 2030 and the national development plans of promoting value addition within the Namibian market, with this agreement and transaction, Rössing ensures that Namibia does not unnecessarily lose foreign currency," Rössing said in a statement. The agreement with Dundee should also be seen in the context of creating employment for Namibians and assisting government in reducing the prevailing high unemployment rate in Namibia. This would also ensure that jobs are created and maintained for TransNamib, the national surface carrier, which will transport the chemicals from Tsumeb to Rössing mine.

FACT keen to host sulphuric acid plant in Kochi

September 23, 2013 - Fertilizers and Chemicals Travancore (FACT) is keen to host the proposed common sulphuric acid plant for public sector fertilizer companies to source raw materials as a consortium. Jaiveer Srivastava, Chairman and Managing Director of FACT, has said that fertilizer PSUs have decided to join hands to attain self-sufficiency in raw materials. As part of these efforts, there is a plan to set up a common sulphuric acid plant. “If that happens FACT Kochi is keen to have the plant here”, he said. The plant is part of FACT’s Vision 2020 plans, unveiled early this year, which include investments to the tune of Rs.6,500 crore to achieve a total sales turnover of Rs.7,000 crore and a profit of Rs.300 crore. Mr. Srivastava said that a team comprising officials from the Ministry of Fertilizers and Indian Fertilizer Association and heads of public sector fertilizer companies had visited Russia recently to open talks on sourcing raw materials commonly. The talks, he said, ended on a positive note and miners were open to the idea of long-term contracts provided the fertilizer companies readied the logistics for the transport. Some of the miners offered to form joint ventures in mining or even asked the Indian companies to set up sulphuric acid plant close to the mines. Report of the Working Group on Fertilizer Industry for the 12th Plan says that about five million tonnes of rock phosphate and 1.2 million tonnes of sulphur are imported every year. Nearly 65 per cent of the requirement for phosphoric acid is met through imports and India imported about two million tonnes of phosphoric acid during 2011-12. Besides, the entire requirement of potash, both for direct application and production of complex fertilizers is met through imports.

China may import more copper due to sulphuric acid build up

August 15, 2013 - Reuters reported that China may have to increase copper imports in the months ahead as domestic smelters are forced to cut production of the metal due to problems disposing of sulphuric acid, a by-product of the smelting process. Higher copper imports by the world's top consumer of the metal should support prices, which are down about 8 percent so far this year. Sulphuric acid is derived from emissions during smelting of copper concentrate or zinc concentrate. Smelters need to dispose of the acid quickly as they typically do not have large storage space, which means sales are vital to their concentrate smelting. Nearly a third of China’s 84 million tonnes of sulphuric acid production used in the manufacture of fertilizers came from smelting last year. China is expected to add 620,000 tonnes of annual copper smelting capacity this year, resulting in about 2.2 million tonnes of extra sulphuric acid production capacity. But an economic slowdown has cut demand this year and, combined with overcapacity in the sector, has caused an excess supply of sulphuric acid. Ms Ban Wenwen a market analyst at information provider Sunsirs said that Sulphuric acid prices have fallen at least a quarter so far this year to about CNY 140 to CNY 160 per tonne in the top consuming province of Shandong and may fall further until peak consumption around year end.

Breen Energy Launches Sulfuric Acid Dewpoint Monitor AbSensor-ADM Used in Oil- and Gas-Fired Applications

June 13, 2013 - Breen Energy Solutions announced the release of a new product, the AbSensor-ADM, specifically designed to measure Sulfuric Acid Dewpoint. This new instrument is designed for oil- and gas-fired boilers and other industrial applications and is priced aggressively for those markets. “This new product is a line extension that serves another sector in our target industries,” said Cal Lockert, Breen Energy Solutions President. “Our goal is to provide the acid gas knowledge, products and services necessary to assure environmental compliance and commercial profitability for our industrial users.” The current Acid gas condensables measurement devices commercialized by Breen, the AbSensor-SO3 and AbSensor-AbS, are designed for the challenging applications found in utility coal-fired boiler applications. These instruments are more expensive and have advanced functionality not required for situations in which only Acid Dewpoint measurement is desired and the flue gas composition is not particularly challenging. The AbSensor-ADM is ideal for low-dust flue gas applications in the 100 to 350 Degree Fahrenheit range. The primary application for this device is measurement of Sulfuric Acid Dewpoint in small boiler and industrial applications.

Three Injured in Acid Spill at Doe Run Smelting Plant in Herculaneum

Acid Spill Results in Temporary Road Closure near Superior

June 7, 2013 - Illegal dumping of sulfuric acid on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) public lands near the Battle Axe Road trailhead parking area near the junction of Battle Axe Road and State Route 177 has created a public health hazard requiring remediation. On June 7, 2013, BLM Tucson Field Manager Brian Bellew signed a temporary Closure Order to restrict public access on June 14 during the site cleanup. The road will reopen the following day. An environmental emergency response contactor will be at the site on that date. “The company will excavate, containerize, remove, and dispose of sulfuric acid contaminated soils at a licensed landfill,” said BLM geologist Dan Moore, who serves as the HazMat coordinator for the office. Underlying soils will be treated with an acid neutralizer. Moore added that, “Due to the nature of the contaminant and the remediation activities planned, the potential for the release of sulfuric acid vapors and contaminated dust creates a risk to persons in the immediate vicinity during the remediation operation.”Thus, under the authority of 43 CFR § 8364.1, the public lands in Township 3 South Range 13 East Section 8 SW¼ SE¼ and Section 17 NW¼ NE¼, Gila and Salt River Meridian, Pinal County, Arizona, will be temporarily closed. This closure includes Battle Axe Road from the State Route 177 turn off west to the Battle Axe Road trailhead parking area. The area is closed to all public entry on June 14, 2013, reopening to public entry on June 15, 2013.

Sterlite Industries' sulphur dioxide emissions within limits: Test report

May 10, 2013 - NEW DELHI: Sulphur dioxide emissions from India's top copper smelter were within limits during an inspection by a court panel, according to a report seen by Reuters, which could help lead to a ruling in favour of reopening the plant. The Sterlite Industries' plant, which produces 30,000 tonnes of refined copper a month - or more than half of India's total production, was shut on March 30 after complaints about emissions. The shutdown is squeezing local supplies of refined copper and boosting prices in India. National Green Tribunal, a fast-track court hearing the case, had set up an expert committee to measure emissions and examine the working condition of machinery, among other things. "The emissions from all the stacks were well within the permissible limit prescribed by the Central Pollution Control Board when the plant was in normal operation," said the report by P.S.T. Sai and Ligy Philip. "In addition to this, the ambient SO2 concentrations in all the 16 monitoring stations were within the permissible limit, when the plant was in normal operation." In a hearing on Wednesday, Justice Swatanter Kumar of the tribunal said that the expert panel's report had to be given to all parties before the next hearing on May 14. The closure of the smelter, which uses imported concentrates, has pushed about 3,000 tonnes per day of concentrates onto the market. Cashing in on regional oversupply after the closure, smelters across Asia have been charging the highest fees in five months to process concentrates. Sterlite is a unit of London-listed resources conglomerate Vedanta Resources Plc, which is controlled by billionaire Anil Agarwal.

Sulfuric chemical spills in downtown Provo

April 17, 2013 - A contained sulfuric chemical spill on Wednesday forced the evacuation of a building in downtown Provo. A company near 500 West 500 South that tests how much heat chemicals produce when mixed together was changing out a tube of sulfur trioxide when the tube fell, reacting to the moisture in the air and started giving off a lot of smoke, said Provo Fire Battalion Chief Tom Augustus. When sulfur trioxide comes in contact with water, it forms sulfuric acid, according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

New 1,500 ton sulphur storage tank completed

March 27, 2013 - H.J. Baker’s Tiger-Sul Products announced that to improve its handling and logistical position and to better serve its customers the company has completed construction on a new 1,500 ton molten sulphur storage tank at its facility in Atmore, Ala. Don Cherry, president of H.J. Baker’s Fertilizer Group said: “As the sulphur market grows, we wanted to ensure we were not only able to meet current customer needs, but that we would be in the best possible position to meet the needs of our customers in the future. This new storage tank will allow us to do so. It is another example of how H.J. Baker delivers outstanding products and superior customer service.” The upgrade to the Atmore facility is in addition to H.J. Baker’s recent announcement of Tiger-Sul Products (Canada) Co.’s purchase on its Irricana, Alberta, Canada, sulphur plant. The Irricana plant will allow for increased production of sulphur bentonite fertilizer and the capability of sulphur forming in the future.

Jacobs awarded design work on Chinese sulfuric acid regeneration plant

March 12, 2013 - Jacobs Engineering Group was awarded a contract by China-based Jiangsu Sailboat Petrochemical Co. for the design of a sulfuric acid regeneration plant in Lianyungang, Jiangsu, officials said on Tuesday. Officials did not disclose the contract value. Under the terms of the contract, Jacobs is providing the process design package, detailed design for critical equipment, design and supply of Jacobs' proprietary Chemetics equipment, as well as technical advisory services for construction and commissioning of the plant. The regeneration plant is expected to treat spent acid from a new methylmethacrylate (MMA) and acrylonitrile (AN) production facility, and is the first regeneration plant in mainland China to use a combination of Jacobs’ proprietary SAR (sulfuric acid regeneration) and SAC (sulfuric acid concentration) technologies in an effort to reduce overall energy requirements for the facility. “We are pleased that our proprietary SAC and SAR technologies are being adopted by Jiangsu Sailboat for its new sulfuric acid regeneration plant," said Jacobs vice president Andy Kremer. "We look forward to working together with Jiangsu Sailboat to deliver a successful project.”


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