Sulfur deposits. Free sulfur in nature

Section 1. Determination of sulfur.

Section 2. Natural minerals sulfur.

Section 3. History of discoverysulfur.

Section 4. Origin of the name sulfur.

Section 5. Origin of sulfur.

Section 6. Receiptsulfur.

Section 7. Manufacturerssulfur.

Section 8. Propertiessulfur.

- Subsection 1. Physicalproperties.

- Subsection2. Chemicalproperties.

Section 10. Fire hazardous properties of sulfur.

- Subsection1. Fires in sulfur warehouses.

Section 11. Being in nature.

Section 12. Biological rolesulfur.

Section 13. Applicationsulfur.

Definitionsulfur

sulfur is element of the sixth group of the third period of the periodic table of chemical elements of D.I. Mendeleev, with atomic number 16. Exhibits non-metallic properties. Denoted by the symbol S (Latin Sulfur). In hydrogen and oxygen compounds it is found in various ions and forms many acids and salts. Many sulfur-containing salts are poorly soluble in water.

Sulfur - S, chemical element with atomic number 16, atomic mass 32,066. The chemical symbol for sulfur S is pronounced "es". Natural sulfur consists of four stable nuclides: 32S (content 95.084% by weight), 33S (0.74%), 34S (4.16%) and 36S (0.016%). The radius of the sulfur atom is 0.104 nm. Ion radii: S2- ion 0.170 nm (coordination number 6), S4+ ion 0.051 nm (coordination number 6) and S6+ ion 0.026 nm (coordination number 4). The sequential ionization energies of the neutral sulfur atom from S0 to S6+ are, respectively, 10.36, 23.35, 34.8, 47.3, 72.5 and 88.0 eV. Sulfur is located in the VIA group of D.I. Mendeleev’s periodic table, in the 3rd period, and belongs to the chalcogens. The configuration of the outer electronic layer is 3s23p4. The most characteristic oxidation states in compounds are -2, +4, +6 (valency II, IV and VI, respectively). The Pauling electronegativity value of sulfur is 2.6. Sulfur is a non-metal.

In its free form, sulfur appears as yellow, brittle crystals or yellow powder.

Sulfur is

Natural minerals sulfur

Sulfur is the sixteenth most abundant element in the earth's crust. It is found in a free (native) state and bound form.

The most important natural sulfur compounds: FeS2 - iron pyrite or pyrite, ZnS - zinc blende or sphalerite (wurtzite), PbS - lead luster or galena, HgS - cinnabar, Sb2S3 - stibnite. In addition, sulfur is present in black gold, natural coal, natural gases and shale. Sulfur is the sixth most abundant element in natural waters; it is found mainly in the form of sulfate ions and causes the “constant” hardness of fresh water. A vital element for higher organisms, an integral part of many proteins, is concentrated in the hair.

Sulfur is

History of discoverysulfur

sulfur in its native state, as well as in the form of sulfur compounds, has been known since ancient times. Man probably became familiar with the smell of burning sulfur, the suffocating effect of sulfur dioxide and the disgusting smell of hydrogen sulfide back in prehistoric times. It was because of these properties that sulfur was used by priests as part of sacred incense during religious rites. Sulfur was considered the work of superhuman beings from the world of spirits or underground gods. A very long time ago, sulfur began to be used as part of various flammable mixtures for military purposes. Homer already described “sulphurous fumes” lethal action emissions of burning sulfur. Sulfur was probably part of the “Greek fire” that terrified opponents. Around the 8th century The Chinese began to use it in pyrotechnic mixtures, in particular, in mixtures such as gunpowder. The flammability of sulfur, the ease with which it combines with metals to form sulfides (for example, on the surface of pieces metal), explain the fact that it was considered the “principle of flammability” and an essential component of metal ores. Presbyter Theophilus (12th century) describes a method of oxidative roasting of sulfide copper ore, probably known in ancient Egypt. IN period Arabian alchemy arose the mercury-sulfur theory of composition metals, according to which sulfur was revered as an essential component (father) of all metals. Later it became one of the three principles of alchemists, and later the “principle of flammability” became the basis of the theory of phlogiston. The elemental nature of sulfur was established by Lavoisier in his combustion experiments. With the introduction of gunpowder in Europe, the development of natural sulfur mining began, as well as the development of a method for producing it from pyrites; the latter was widespread in ancient Rus'. It was first described in literature by Agricola. Thus, the exact origin of sulfur has not been established, but, as stated above, this element was used before the birth of Christ, and therefore has been familiar to people since ancient times.

Sulfur occurs in nature in a free (native) state, so it was known to man already in ancient times. Sulfur attracted attention with its characteristic color, blue flames and a specific smell that occurs during combustion (the smell of sulfur dioxide). It was believed that burning sulfur drove away evil spirits. The Bible talks about the use of sulfur to cleanse sinners. For medieval people, the smell of “sulfur” was associated with the underworld. The use of burning sulfur for disinfection is mentioned by Homer. In ancient Rome, fabrics were bleached using sulfur dioxide.

Sulfur has long been used in medicine - patients were fumigated with its flame, it was included in various ointments for the treatment of skin diseases. In the 11th century Avicenna (Ibn Sina), and then European alchemists believed that metals, including silver, consist of sulfur and mercury in different proportions. Therefore, sulfur played an important role in alchemists' attempts to find the "philosopher's stone" and transform base metals into precious ones. In the 16th century Paracelsus considered sulfur, along with mercury and “salt,” one of the main “principles” of nature, the “soul” of all bodies.

The practical importance of sulfur increased sharply after the invention of black gunpowder (which necessarily includes sulfur). In 673, the Byzantines, defending Constantinople, burned the enemy fleet with the help of so-called Greek fire - a mixture of saltpeter, sulfur, resin and other substances - the flame of which was not extinguished by water. In the Middle Ages Europe Black gunpowder was used, the composition of which was close to a mixture of Greek fire. Since then, sulfur has been widely used for military purposes.

The most important sulfur compound has long been known - sulfuric acid. One of the creators of iatrochemistry, monk Vasily Valentin, in the 15th century described in detail the production of sulfuric acid by calcining iron sulfate ( old name sulfuric acid - oil of vitriol).

The elemental nature of sulfur was established in 1789 by A. Lavoisier. In titles chemical compounds sulfur-containing substances often contain the prefix “thio” (for example, the Na2S2O3 reagent used in photography is called sodium thiosulfate). The origin of this prefix is associated with the Greek name for sulfur - theion.

Origin of the name sulfur

Russian name sulfur goes back to the Proto-Slavic *sěra, which is associated with Lat. serum "serum".

Latin sulfur (a Hellenized spelling of the older sulpur) comes from the Indo-European root *swelp- “to burn.”

Origin of sulfur

Large accumulations of native sulfur are not very common. It is more often present in some ores. Native sulfur ore is a rock interspersed with pure sulfur.

When were these inclusions formed - simultaneously with the accompanying rocks or later? The direction of prospecting and exploration work depends on the answer to this question. But, despite thousands of years of communication with sulfur, humanity still does not have a clear answer. There are several theories whose authors hold opposing views.

The theory of syngenesis (that is, the simultaneous formation of sulfur and host rocks) suggests that the formation of native sulfur occurred in shallow basins. Special bacteria reduced sulfates dissolved in water to hydrogen sulfide, which rose upward, entered the oxidation zone, and here, chemically or with the participation of other bacteria, was oxidized to elemental sulfur. The sulfur settled to the bottom, and subsequently the sulfur-containing silt formed ore.

The theory of epigenesis (sulfur inclusions formed later than the main rocks) has several options. The most common of them assumes that groundwater, penetrating through rock strata, is enriched with sulfates. If such waters come into contact with deposits black gold or Natural gas, then sulfate ions are reduced by hydrocarbons to hydrogen sulfide. Hydrogen sulfide rises to the surface and, when oxidized, releases pure sulfur in the voids and cracks of rocks.

In recent decades, one of the varieties of the theory of epigenesis has found more and more confirmation - the theory of metasomatosis (translated from Greek, “metasomatosis” means replacement). According to it, the transformation of gypsum CaSO4-H2O and anhydrite CaSO4 into sulfur and calcite CaCO3 constantly occurs in the depths. This theory was created in 1935 by Soviet scientists L. M. Miropolsky and B. P. Krotov. In particular, this fact speaks in its favor.

Mishraq was discovered in Iraq in 1961. The sulfur here is contained in carbonate rocks, which form an arch supported by pillars going deep (in geology they are called wings). These wings consist mainly of anhydrite and gypsum. The same picture was observed at the domestic Shor-Su field.

The geological uniqueness of these deposits can only be explained from the standpoint of the theory of metasomatism: primary gypsum and anhydrites turned into secondary carbonate ores interspersed with native sulfur. It's not just the neighborhood that matters minerals— the average sulfur content in the ore of these deposits is equal to the content of chemically bound sulfur in anhydrite. And studies of the isotopic composition of sulfur and carbon in the ore of these deposits gave supporters of the theory of metasomatism additional arguments.

But there is one “but”: the chemistry of the process of converting gypsum into sulfur and calcite is not yet clear, and therefore there is no reason to consider the theory of metasomatism the only correct one. There are still lakes on earth (in particular, Sernoye Lake near Sernovodsk), where syngenetic deposition of sulfur occurs and the sulfur-bearing silt contains neither gypsum nor anhydrite.

All this means that the variety of theories and hypotheses about the origin of native sulfur is the result not only and not so much of the incompleteness of our knowledge, but of the complexity of the phenomena occurring in subsoil. We all know from elementary school mathematics that different paths can lead to the same result. This extends to geochemistry as well.

Receiptsulfur

sulfur is obtained mainly by smelting native sulfur directly in places where it occurs underground. Sulfur ores are mined in different ways, depending on the conditions of occurrence. Sulfur deposits are almost always accompanied by accumulations of toxic gases - sulfur compounds. In addition, we must not forget about the possibility of its spontaneous combustion.

In 1890, Hermann Frasch proposed melting sulfur underground and pumping it to the surface through oil wells. The relatively low (113°C) melting point of sulfur confirmed the reality of Frasch’s idea. In 1890, tests began that led to success.

There are several known methods for obtaining sulfur from sulfur ores: steam-water, filtration, thermal, centrifugal and extraction.

Sulfur is also found in large quantities in Natural gas in a gaseous state (in the form of hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide). During mining, it is deposited on the walls of pipes and equipment, rendering them inoperable. Therefore, it is recovered from the gas as quickly as possible after production. The resulting chemically pure fine sulfur is an ideal raw material for the chemical and rubber industries.

The largest deposit of native sulfur of volcanic origin is located on the island of Iturup with reserves of category A+B+C1 - 4227 thousand tons and category C2 - 895 thousand tons, which is enough to build an enterprise with a capacity of 200 thousand tons of granulated sulfur per year.

Manufacturerssulfur

The main sulfur producers in Russian Federation are enterprises OJSC Gazprom: LLC Gazprom Dobycha Astrakhan and LLC Gazprom Dobycha Orenburg, receiving it as a by-product during gas purification.

Propertiessulfur

1) Physical

sulfur differs significantly from oxygen in its ability to form stable chains and cycles of atoms. The most stable are the crown-shaped cyclic S8 molecules, which form orthorhombic and monoclinic sulfur. This is crystalline sulfur - a brittle yellow substance. In addition, molecules with closed (S4, S6) chains and open chains are possible. This composition has plastic sulfur, a substance brown, which is obtained by sharply cooling the molten sulfur (plastic sulfur becomes brittle within a few hours and acquires yellow and gradually turns into a rhombic shape). The formula for sulfur is most often written simply S, since, although it has a molecular structure, it is a mixture simple substances with different molecules. Sulfur is insoluble in water; some of its modifications dissolve in organic solvents, such as carbon disulfide and turpentine. The melting of sulfur is accompanied by a noticeable increase in volume (approximately 15%). Molten sulfur is a yellow, easily mobile liquid, which above 160 °C turns into a very viscous dark brown mass. The sulfur melt acquires the highest viscosity at a temperature of 190 °C; a further increase in temperature is accompanied by a decrease in viscosity and above 300 °C the molten sulfur again becomes mobile. This is because when sulfur is heated, it gradually polymerizes, increasing the length of the chain as the temperature increases. When sulfur is heated above 190 °C, the polymer units begin to collapse. Sulfur can serve as the simplest example of an electret. When rubbed, sulfur acquires a strong negative charge.

Sulfur is used for the production of sulfuric acid, rubber vulcanization, as a fungicide in agriculture and as colloidal sulfur - medicinal product. Also, sulfur in sulfur bitumen compositions is used to produce sulfur asphalt, and as a substitute for Portland cement to produce sulfur concrete.

2) Chemical

Burning sulfur

In air, sulfur burns, forming sulfur dioxide - a colorless gas with a pungent odor:

Using spectral analysis, it was established that in fact process The oxidation of sulfur into dioxide is a chain reaction and occurs with the formation of a number of intermediate products: sulfur monoxide S2O2, molecular sulfur S2, free sulfur atoms S and free radicals sulfur monoxide SO.

In addition to oxygen, sulfur reacts with many non-metals, but when room temperature sulfur - only with fluorine, exhibiting restorative properties:

Molten sulfur reacts with chlorine, and the formation of two lower chlorides is possible:

2S + Cl2 = S2Cl2

When heated, sulfur also reacts with phosphorus, apparently forming a mixture of phosphorus sulfides, among which is the higher sulfide P2S5:

In addition, when heated, sulfur reacts with hydrogen, carbon, silicon:

S + H2 = H2S (hydrogen sulfide)

C + 2S = CS2 (carbon disulfide)

When heated, sulfur interacts with many metals, often quite violently. Sometimes a mixture of metal and sulfur ignites when ignited. This interaction produces sulfides:

2Al + 3S = Al2S3

Sulfide solutions alkali metals react with sulfur to form polysulfides:

Na2S + S = Na2S2

From complex substances It should be noted first of all the reaction of sulfur with molten alkali, in which sulfur is disproportionately similar to chlorine:

3S + 6KOH = K2SO3 + 2K2S + 3H2O

The resulting melt is called sulfur liver.

Sulfur reacts with concentrated oxidizing acids (HNO3, H2SO4) only during prolonged heating, oxidizing:

S + 6HNO3(conc.) = H2SO4 + 6NO2 + 2H2O

S + 2H2SO4(conc.) = 3SO2 + 2H2O

Sulfur is

Fire hazardous properties of sulfur

Finely ground sulfur is prone to chemical spontaneous combustion in the presence of moisture, upon contact with oxidizing agents, and also in a mixture with coal, fats, and oils. Sulfur forms explosive mixtures with nitrates, chlorates and perchlorates. Spontaneously ignites on contact with bleach.

Extinguishing agents: sprayed water, air-mechanical foam.

According to V. Marshall, sulfur dust is classified as explosive, but for an explosion a sufficiently high concentration of dust is required - about 20 g/m3 (20,000 mg/m3), this concentration is many times higher than the maximum permissible concentration for humans in the air of the work area - 6 mg /m3.

Vapors form an explosive mixture with air.

The combustion of sulfur occurs only in a molten state, similar to the combustion of liquids. The top layer of burning sulfur boils, creating vapors that form a dimly luminous flame up to 5 cm high. The flame temperature when burning sulfur is 1820 °C.

Since air by volume consists of approximately 21% oxygen and 79% nitrogen, and when sulfur burns, one volume of oxygen produces one volume of SO2, the maximum theoretically possible SO2 content in the gas mixture is 21%. In practice, combustion occurs with some excess air, and the volumetric SO2 content in the gas mixture is less than theoretically possible, usually amounting to 14...15%.

Detection of sulfur combustion by fire automatics is a difficult problem. The flame is difficult to detect with the human eye or a video camera; the spectrum of blue flame lies mainly in the ultraviolet range. Combustion occurs at low temperature. To detect combustion with a heat detector, it must be placed directly close to the sulfur. Sulfur flame does not emit infrared radiation. Thus, it will not be detected by common infrared detectors. They will only detect secondary fires. A sulfur flame does not release water vapor. Therefore, UV flame detectors that use nickel compounds will not work.

To fulfill the requirements fire safety at sulfur warehouses it is necessary:

Structures and technological equipment must be regularly cleaned of dust;

The warehouse premises must be constantly ventilated with natural ventilation with the doors open;

Crushing lumps of sulfur on the bunker grate should be done with wooden sledgehammers or tools made of non-sparking material;

Conveyors for supplying sulfur to production premises must be equipped with metal detectors;

In places where sulfur is stored and used, it is necessary to provide devices (boards, thresholds with a ramp, etc.) that ensure emergency situation preventing the spread of molten sulfur outside the room or open area;

At the sulfur warehouse it is prohibited:

Production of all types works using open fire;

Store and store oily rags and rags;

When making repairs, use tools made of non-sparking material.

Fires in sulfur warehouses

In December 1995, at an open sulfur warehouse enterprises, located in the city of Somerset in the Western Cape Province of the Republic of South Africa, a large fire occurred, killing two people.

On January 16, 2006, at about five in the evening, a warehouse with sulfur caught fire at the Cherepovets enterprise “Ammofos”. Total area fire - about 250 square meters. It was possible to completely eliminate it only at the beginning of the second night. There are no casualties or injuries.

On March 15, 2007, early in the morning at Balakovo Fiber Materials Plant LLC, a fire occurred in a closed sulfur warehouse. The fire area was 20 sq.m. There were 4 fire crews with 13 personnel working on the fire. After about half an hour, the fire was extinguished. No one was hurt.

On March 4 and 9, 2008, a sulfur fire occurred in the Atyrau region in the TCO sulfur storage facility at the Tengiz field. In the first case, the fire was extinguished quickly; in the second case, the sulfur burned for 4 hours. The volume of burned oil refining waste, which according to Kazakhstan laws attributed to sulfur, amounted to more than 9 thousand kilograms.

In April 2008, not far from the village of Kryazh, Samara region, a warehouse in which 70 tons of sulfur was stored caught fire. The fire was assigned the second category of complexity. 11 fire brigades and rescuers went to the scene of the incident. At that moment, when firefighters found themselves near the warehouse, not all of the sulfur was burning, but only a small part of it - about 300 kilograms. The area of the fire, including areas of dry grass adjacent to the warehouse, amounted to 80 square meters. Firefighters managed to quickly put out the flames and localize the fire: the fires were covered with earth and filled with water.

In July 2009, sulfur burned in Dneprodzerzhinsk. A fire occurred at one of the coke-chemical plants in the Bagleysky district of the city. The fire consumed more than eight tons of sulfur. None of the plant employees were injured.

Being in naturesulfur

WITH The era is quite widespread in nature. In the earth's crust its content is estimated at 0.05% by mass. In nature there are often significant deposits native sulfur (usually near volcanoes); V Europe they are located in the south of Italy, in Sicily. Even bigger deposits native sulfur are available in the USA (in the states of Louisiana and Texas), as well as in Central Asia, in Japan, in Mexico. In nature, sulfur is found both in bulk and in the form of crystalline layers, sometimes forming amazingly beautiful groups of translucent yellow crystals (the so-called druses).

In volcanic areas, hydrogen sulfide gas H2S is often released from the ground; in these same regions, hydrogen sulfide is found dissolved in sulfuric waters. Volcanic gases often also contain sulfur dioxide SO2.

Deposits of various sulfide compounds are widespread on the surface of our planet. The most common among them are: iron pyrite (pyrite) FeS2, copper pyrite (chalcopyrite) CuFeS2, lead luster PbS, cinnabar HgS, sphalerite ZnS and its crystalline modification wurtzite, stibnite Sb2S3 and others. Numerous deposits of various sulfates are also known, for example, calcium sulfate (gypsum CaSO4 2H2O and anhydrite CaSO4), magnesium sulfate MgSO4 (bitter salt), barium sulfate BaSO4 (barite), strontium sulfate SrSO4 (celestine), sodium sulfate Na2SO4 10H2O (mirabilite ), etc.

Hard coals contain an average of 1.0-1.5% sulfur. Sulfur may also be part of black gold. A number of natural combustible gas fields (for example, Astrakhan) contain hydrogen sulfide as an impurity.

Sulfur is one of the elements that are essential for living organisms, as it is an essential component of proteins. Proteins contain 0.8-2.4% (by weight) of chemically bound sulfur. Plants obtain sulfur from sulfates found in the soil. Unpleasant odors arising from rotting animal corpses are mainly explained by the release of sulfur compounds (hydrogen sulfide and mercaptans) formed during the decomposition of proteins. IN sea water about 8.7·10-2% sulfur is present.

Receiptsulfur

WITH Sulfur is obtained mainly by smelting it from rocks containing native (elemental) sulfur. The so-called geotechnological method makes it possible to obtain sulfur without raising ore to the surface. This method was proposed at the end of the 19th century by the American chemist G. Frasch, who was faced with the task of extracting sulfur from the deposits of the south to the surface of the earth USA, where the sandy soil greatly complicated its extraction using the traditional mine method.

Frasch proposed using superheated water vapor to lift sulfur to the surface. Superheated steam is fed through a pipe into an underground layer containing sulfur. The sulfur melts (its melting point is slightly below 120°C) and rises to the top through a pipe located inside the one through which water vapor is pumped underground. In order to ensure the rise of liquid sulfur, compressed air is pumped through the thinnest inner tube.

According to another (thermal) method, which became especially widespread at the beginning of the 20th century in Sicily, sulfur is smelted, or sublimated, from crushed rock in special clay ovens.

There are other methods for separating native sulfur from rock, for example, by extraction with carbon disulfide or flotation methods.

Due to the fact that the need industry in sulfur is very high, methods have been developed for its production from hydrogen sulfide H2S and sulfates.

The method of oxidizing hydrogen sulfide to elemental sulfur was first developed in Great Britain, where they learned to obtain significant amounts of sulfur from the Na2CO3 remaining after the production of soda using the method of the French chemist N. Leblanc of calcium sulfide CaS. Leblanc's method is based on the reduction of sodium sulfate with coal in the presence of limestone CaCO3.

Na2SO4 + 2C = Na2S + 2CO2;

Na2S + CaCO3 = Na2CO3 + CaS.

The soda is then leached with water, and the aqueous suspension of poorly soluble calcium sulfide is treated with carbon dioxide:

CaS + CO2 + H2O = CaCO3 + H2S

The resulting hydrogen sulfide H2S mixed with air is passed in a furnace over a catalyst bed. In this case, due to the incomplete oxidation of hydrogen sulfide, sulfur is formed:

2H2S + O2 = 2H2O +2S

A similar method is used to obtain elemental sulfur from hydrogen sulfide accompanying natural gases.

Because modern technology requires high purity sulfur, developed effective methods sulfur refining. In this case, in particular, differences in the chemical behavior of sulfur and impurities are used. Thus, arsenic and selenium are removed by treating sulfur with a mixture of nitric and sulfuric acids.

Using methods based on distillation and rectification, it is possible to obtain high-purity sulfur with an impurity content of 10-5 - 10-6% by weight.

Applicationsulfur

ABOUT about half of the sulfur produced is used for the production of sulfuric acid, about 25% is spent to produce sulfites, 10-15% is used to control pests of agricultural crops (mainly grapes and cotton) (the solution of copper sulfate CuSO4 5H2O is of greatest importance here), about 10% used rubber industry for rubber vulcanization. Sulfur is used in the production of dyes and pigments, explosives (it is still part of gunpowder), artificial fibers, and phosphors. Sulfur is used in the production of matches, as it is part of the composition from which match heads are made. Some ointments that are used to treat skin diseases still contain sulfur. To give steels special properties, small additions of sulfur are introduced into them (although, as a rule, an admixture of sulfur in steels undesirable).

Biological rolesulfur

WITH era is constantly present in all living organisms, being an important biogenic element. Its content in plants is 0.3-1.2%, in animals 0.5-2% ( marine organisms contain more sulfur than terrestrial ones). Biological significance sulfur is determined primarily by the fact that it is part of the amino acids methionine and cysteine and, therefore, part of peptides and proteins. Disulfide bonds -S-S- in polypeptide chains are involved in the formation of the spatial structure of proteins, and sulfhydryl groups (-SH) play an important role in the active centers of enzymes. In addition, sulfur is included in the molecules of hormones and important substances. A lot of sulfur is contained in the keratin of hair, bones, and nervous tissue. Inorganic sulfur compounds are necessary for the mineral nutrition of plants. They serve as substrates oxidative reactions carried out by sulfur bacteria common in nature.

The body of an average person (body weight 70 kg) contains about 1402 g of sulfur. The daily requirement of an adult for sulfur is about 4.

However, in terms of its negative impact on the environment and humans, sulfur (more precisely, its compounds) is one of the first places. The main source of sulfur pollution is combustion coal and other fuels containing sulfur. At the same time, about 96% of the sulfur contained in the fuel enters the atmosphere in the form of sulfur dioxide SO2.

In the atmosphere, sulfur dioxide is gradually oxidized to sulfur oxide (VI). Both oxides - sulfur oxide (IV) and sulfur oxide (VI) - react with water vapor to form an acidic solution. These solutions then fall out in the form of acid rain. Once in the soil, acidic water inhibits the development of soil fauna and plants. As a result, unfavorable conditions for the development of vegetation, especially in northern regions where chemical pollution is added to the harsh climate. As a result, forests are dying, grass cover is being destroyed, and the condition of water bodies is deteriorating. Acid rain destroy monuments made of marble and other materials, moreover, they cause the destruction of even stone buildings and trade items from metals. Therefore, it is necessary to take various measures to prevent the release of sulfur compounds from fuel into the atmosphere. To do this, petroleum products are purified from sulfur compounds and the gases generated during fuel combustion are purified.

Sulfur itself in the form of dust irritates mucous membranes and respiratory organs and can cause serious illnesses. The maximum permissible concentration of sulfur in the air is 0.07 mg/m3.

Many sulfur compounds are toxic. Particularly noteworthy is hydrogen sulfide, inhalation of which quickly dulls the reaction to it. bad smell and can lead to severe poisoning, even death. The maximum permissible concentration of hydrogen sulfide in the air of working premises is 10 mg/m3, in atmospheric air 0.008 mg/m3.

Sources

Chemical encyclopedia: in 5 volumes / Editorial Board: Zefirov N. S. (chief editor). - Moscow: Soviet Encyclopedia, 1995. - T. 4. - P. 319. - 639 p. — 20,000 copies. — ISBN 5—85270—039—8

Great Medical Encyclopedia

SULFUR- chem. element, symbol S (lat. Sulfur), at. n. 16, at. m. 32.06. Exists in the form of several allotropic modifications; among them are sulfur of the monoclinic modification (density 1960 kg/m3, tmelt = 119°C) and orthorhombic sulfur (density 2070 kg/m3, ίπι = 112.8... ... Big Polytechnic Encyclopedia

SULFUR- (denoted S), a chemical element of group VI of the PERIODIC TABLE, a non-metal, known since antiquity. Occurs in nature both as a separate element and in the form of sulfide minerals such as GALENITE and PYRITE, and sulfate minerals,... ... Scientific and technical encyclopedic dictionary

sulfur- In the mythology of the Irish Celts, Sera is the father of Parthalon (see chapter 6). According to some sources, it was Sera, and not Parthalon, who was Dilgneid's husband. (

Sulfur- a lemon-yellow mineral, sometimes honey-yellow, yellowish-gray or brownish, is molecular sulfur - S, the mineral is very brittle, hardness 1-2.

Inclusions of organic matter and oil droplets can give crystals a brown or black color.

Crystallizes in the rhombic system. It occurs in the form of pyramidal crystals and in granular aggregates. Sometimes sintered kidney-shaped forms and deposits and earthy masses are observed.

The shine is diamond-like, greasy at the fracture, and translucent in the crystals. Native sulfur is sensitive to elevated temperatures and cracks even from the warmth of your hands. With a match it easily melts and lights up with a blue flame.

Name

The origin of the Latin word sulfur is unknown. The Russian name of the element is usually derived from the Sanskrit “sira” - light yellow. There may be a relationship between “sulphur” and the Hebrew “seraphim” - plural. number from “seraph” - literally “burning”, and sulfur burns well. In Old Russian and Old Church Slavonic, “sulfur” is generally any flammable substance, including fat.

Origin

Sulfur is formed exclusively on the surface of the earth's crust, as a result volcanic eruptions, precipitating in the form of sublimates, and sometimes pouring out in molten form. It is formed during the weathering of sulfides (mainly pyrite), or accumulates in marine sediments, oils and bitumen, biochemically. Can be associated with gypsum, standing out from its thickness. Large accumulations of native sulfur are quite rare in nature. More often it is present in the host rock in the form of small inclusions.

Deposits

Sulfur deposits are widespread in Central Asia, the Gaurdak and Shor-Su deposits are found in cracks and voids of various sedimentary rocks in association with oil, gypsum,
celestine, calcite, aragonite, etc. In the Kara-Kum desert in the form of mounds covered with siliceous crusts, in association with gypsum, quartz, chalcedony, opal, etc. Large sedimentary deposits
are available in the Volga region (near the city of Kuibyshev). The deposits of Sicily, powerful deposits in the states of Texas and Louisiana (USA), Bolivia, Mishrak and Iraq, Southern Poland, and Stassfurt in Germany are very famous. Areas of volcanism: Kamchatka, Japan, Italy, Indonesia.

Application

The main use of sulfur is in the production of sulfuric acid, used in many industries; used in agriculture for pest control, in rubber production (rubber vulcanization process), in the manufacture of matches, paints, and pyrotechnics.

Healing and magical properties

It is believed that sulfur has the ability to absorb negative energy, helps avoid conflicts and quarrels, and pacifies emotional impulses.

A significant part of natural healing methods is based on the use of sulfur compounds, be it a clove of garlic or a Matsesta hydrogen sulfide bath. Polysulfides - compounds of sulfur and hydrogen sulfide - are responsible for the healing effect here.

Sulfur has long been known to man. Evidence of its use in Egypt dates back to the second millennium BC. e. Both the ancient Greeks and Romans knew sulfur. It is mentioned in the famous works of Homer, Pliny the Elder and in the Bible. Sulfur has been widely used in medicine for a long time. IN medicinal purposes Since ancient times it has been used in Rus'. One of the first domestic scientists who studied sulfur, M.V. Lomonosov wrote: “The earth in its depths contains such an amount of sulfur that not only are the underground filled with it... but this fossil stands out even on the surface of the earth,” noting at the same time that it occurs “it is native and pure, but rarely.” Somewhat later, Academician V. Severgin assessed the distribution of sulfur more optimistically: “Native sulfur is pure and mixed with lands in Russia in abundance.” Nowadays, over 400 minerals containing sulfur are known. And its content in the earth’s crust is about 0.05%.

The presence of native sulfur in Crimea was indicated in the middle of the last century. The Mining Journal wrote about the “search” for sulfur here in 1849. It was about the vicinity of Lake Chokrak on the Kerch Peninsula, where “very clear, but very small crystals of native sulfur” were discovered in the limestone. Lieutenant Antipov carried out exploration work here by order of Prince Vorontsov with the excavation of mine workings. It turned out that sulfur is confined only to the outlets of hydrogen sulfide sources. Its formation was explained by the decomposition of hydrogen sulfide. “In conclusion, I must say,” writes the lieutenant, “that this sulfur deposit is not of any technical importance, except for one healing property of the sources, which promise great benefits.” Thin whitish deposits of sulfur can still be observed at the Chokrak and other sources of hydrogen sulfide waters, for example, in the vicinity of Sudak.

Native sulfur is often formed during the weathering of sulfides - pyrite and marcasite. It was found in Crimea in connection with various rocks: in marls near Feodosia, limestones in the vicinity of Bakhchisarai, granodiorites near Alushta. Sulfur of this type is usually included in the composition of earthy aggregates mixed with iron sulfates and hydroxyls and is represented by tiny irregular grains, sometimes crystals. It is often accompanied by plaster. Fine powdery sulfur is present in the silts of salt lakes, for example, Saki.

The largest accumulations of sulfur were discovered in Crimea in 1883 by N.I. Andrusov on the Kerch Peninsula near the village of Chekur-Koyash. Later it turned out that there was a whole deposit here. Sulfur is confined to gypsum-bearing clays and marls and forms layers and nodules ranging in size from several millimeters to 30 cm. Its content in ore ranges from 10 to 30%.

According to one of the accepted hypotheses, native sulfur was formed from gypsum under the influence of hydrogen sulfide waters enriched with organic substances with the participation of bacteria.

By today's scale, the deposit would look modest. But at one time it played an important role. The fact is that before the revolution, sulfur was imported into Russia from abroad. And the Chekur-Koyashskoye deposit was one of the first to produce industrial domestic sulfur. Here brief history its development.

In the last century, only a little sulfur was extracted by artisanal methods for local needs. The deposit has hardly been studied. In 1906, a Belgian company leased it and began geological exploration and preparation for exploitation. The technical level of the work was low. The workings were poorly ventilated. This led to tragic death a worker and an administrator were poisoned by sulfur gas at the mine face, after which work was stopped.

Since the beginning of the First World War, a critical situation with sulfur developed in the country, and by decision of the Military-Industrial Committee, exploration of Chekur-Koyash began in 1915. In 1916, preparations for development and associated production were already underway. 1600 tons of ore were extracted. About 10 tons of sulfur were manually selected from it. But in 1917, work was stopped and the mines were flooded with water.

The revival of the mine began with the establishment of Soviet power in Crimea. At first, a small amount of sulfur was obtained at a small factory from previously mined ore. Then they carried out a thorough geological exploration and calculation of sulfur reserves. In 1928, the mine and plant, which were practically built anew, began to produce sulfur. Mining lasted for about 10 years, and the deposit was depleted. Crimean sulfur played an important role in the initial period of production. “Kerch sulfur is of great importance for the Union of our republics,” noted the press in the 30s. With the discovery and development of large deposits in Central Asia, Chekur-Koyasha sulfur retained only local importance. Currently, about a dozen non-industrial manifestations of sulfur are known on the Kerch Peninsula.

Peculiar appearance native sulfur. The color is yellow in different shades, most often straw yellow. The shine is greasy. Sulfur forms films, earthy and powdery masses, thin layers and nodules, and is less common in regular crystals. Characteristic are tetrahedral bipyramids with truncated apices of the most common rhombic, or so-called alpha, sulfur. It is most stable on the surface of the earth. It is curious that in the limestones of the area Kerch Strait S.P. Popov discovered in 1901, along with this variety, lamellar crystals of monoclinic (beta) sulfur, which are rarer in nature. This is the world's first discovery of beta-sulfur under conditions of the earth's surface without connection with volcanic activity. The form of beta-sulfur crystals from the Crimea but S.P. Popov is firmly included in reference books on mineralogy.

In terms of hardness, sulfur is slightly superior to talc, the softest mineral on the Mohs scale. Talc has a hardness of 1, while sulfur has a hardness of 1-2 on this scale. Sulfur is twice as heavy as water. Its density is about two. An important difference is the ability of sulfur to burn. According to Pliny the Elder, “no substance ignites so easily, from which it is clear that it contains great fiery power.” Before the advent of modern ideas for a long time It was believed that sulfur was a carrier of a special flammable substance. The ability of sulfur to burn can be used as a reliable diagnostic sign. An insignificant grain of the substance is enough to test. The test can be carried out on the tip of a penknife blade using a burning match or spirit lamp. You can also use a hot sewing needle. The smell of burning sulfur is also very characteristic, distinguishing it from other minerals. In fine powdery and earthy secretions, sulfur is similar to iron sulfates. Unlike many similar minerals, sulfur dissolves in kerosene and turpentine.

Native sulfur often contains up to several percent of impurities. Crimean sulfur contains calcium, selenium, arsenic and some other elements. Impurities may limit the use of sulfur in certain industries.

Sulfur has an extremely large number of professions, and has been for a long time. “Its benefits are very extensive,” V. Severgin wrote at the beginning of the last century. “It is used in various ways in chemistry, in the art of medicine, for the extraction of sulfuric acid, for the preparation of cinnabar, gunpowder, in amusing fires... for the extermination of insects.” . Currently, sulfur is being used even more. Every year, tens of millions of tons of native sulfur are mined around the world. It is used in the production of synthetic fibers, rubber, dyes, food industry. Approximately half of the mined sulfur is used to produce sulfuric acid, a quarter to the pulp and paper industry, and about 10% to agriculture. Crimean sulfur was used mainly to control vineyard pests and for sanitary purposes.

Sulfur production increased significantly after black powder was invented. After all, sulfur (together with coal and saltpeter) is its indispensable component. Nowadays, sulfur is one of the most important types of raw materials for many chemical production. Annual world consumption of sulfur is about 20 million tons. Its industrial consumers are a variety of industries: sulfuric acid, paper, rubber, matches, etc. Sulfur is also widely used for pest control agriculture, in pyrotechnics, and partly in medicine. In terms of content in the earth's crust (0.03%), sulfur is a very common element. However, large accumulations of native sulfur are not very common. It is more often present in some ores. Native sulfur ore is a rock interspersed with pure sulfur. When were these inclusions formed - simultaneously with the accompanying rocks or later? The direction of prospecting and exploration work depends on the answer to this question. But, despite thousands of years of communication with sulfur, humanity still does not have a clear answer. Sulfur ores are mined in different ways, depending on the conditions of occurrence. But in any case, you have to pay a lot of attention to safety precautions. Sulfur deposits are almost always accompanied by accumulations of poisonous gases - sulfur compounds. In addition, we must not forget about the possibility of spontaneous combustion.

Sulfur ores are mined in different ways - in depending on the conditions of occurrence. But in any case, you have to pay a lot of attention to safety precautions. Sulfur deposits are almost always accompanied by accumulations of poisonous gases - sulfur compounds. In addition, we must not forget about the possibility of spontaneous combustion.

Open pit mining of ore occurs like this. Walking excavators remove layers of rock under which ore lies. The ore layer is crushed by explosions, after which the ore blocks are sent to processing plant, and from there to the sulfur smelter, where sulfur is extracted from the concentrate. Extraction methods are different. Some of them will be discussed below. And here it is appropriate to briefly describe the well method of extracting sulfur from underground, which allowed the United States of America and Mexico to become the largest suppliers of sulfur.

At the end of the last century, rich deposits of sulfur ore were discovered in the southern United States. But it was not easy to approach the layers: hydrogen sulfide leaked into the mines (namely, it was planned to develop the deposit using the mine method) and blocked access to sulfur. In addition, sandy quicksand made it difficult to break through to the sulfur-bearing layers. A solution was found by the chemist Hermann Frasch, who proposed melting sulfur underground and pumping it to the surface through wells similar to oil wells. The relatively low (less than 120 ° C) melting point of sulfur confirmed the reality of Frasch’s idea. In 1890, tests began that led to success.

In principle, the installation of Frasch is very simple: a pipe in a pipe. Superheated water is supplied into the space between the pipes and flows through it into the formation. And molten sulfur rises through the inner pipe, heated from all sides. The modern version of the Frasch installation is supplemented by a third - the narrowest pipe. Through it, compressed air is supplied into the well, which helps raise the molten sulfur to the surface. One of the main advantages of the Frasch method is that it allows one to obtain relatively pure sulfur already at the first stage of production. This method is very effective when mining rich ores.

Previously, it was believed that the method of underground smelting of sulfur was applicable only in the specific conditions of the “salt domes” of the Pacific coast of the United States and Mexico. However, experiments conducted in Poland and the USSR refuted this opinion. In popular Poland, large quantities of sulfur are already extracted by this method; in 1968, the first sulfur wells were launched in the USSR.

And ore obtained in quarries and mines has to be processed (often with preliminary enrichment), using various technological methods.

There are several known methods for obtaining sulfur from sulfur ores: steam-water, filtration, thermal, centrifugal and extraction.

Thermal methods for extracting sulfur are the most outdated. Back in the 18th century, in the Kingdom of Naples, sulfur was smelted in heaps - “solfatars”. To this day, sulfur is smelted in Italy in primitive furnaces - “calcarones”. The heat required to smelt sulfur from ore is obtained by burning part of the mined sulfur. This process is ineffective, losses reach 45%.

Italy also became the birthplace of steam-water methods for extracting sulfur from ores. In 1859, Giuseppe Gill received a patent for his apparatus - the predecessor of today's autoclaves. The autoclave method (significantly improved, of course) is still used in many countries.

In the autoclave process, enriched sulfur ore concentrate containing up to 80% sulfur is pumped into the autoclave in the form of a liquid pulp with reagents. Water steam is supplied there under pressure. The pulp is heated to 130° C. The sulfur contained in the concentrate melts and is separated from the rock. After a short settling, the melted sulfur is drained. Then the "tailings" - a suspension of waste rock in water - are released from the autoclave? The tailings contain quite a lot of sulfur and are returned to the processing plant.

In Russia, the autoclave method was first used by engineer K. G. Patkanov in 1896.

Modern autoclaves are huge devices the height of a four-story building. Such autoclaves are installed, in particular, at the sulfur smelting plant of the Rozdol Mining and Chemical Plant in the Carpathian region.

In some industries, for example at a large sulfur plant in Tarnobrzeg (Poland), waste rock is separated from molten sulfur using special filters. The separation method using special centrifuges was recently developed in our country. In a word, “gold ore (more precisely, golden ore) can be separated from waste rock” in different ways.

They satisfy their sulfur needs in different ways different countries. Mexico and the USA mainly use the Frasch method. Italy, which ranks third among capitalist states in sulfur production, continues to mine and process (different methods) sulfur ores from the Sicilian deposits and the province of Marco. Japan has significant reserves of volcanic sulfur. France and Canada, which do not have native sulfur, have developed large-scale production of it from gases. England and Germany do not have their own sulfur deposits. They cover their needs for sulfuric acid by processing sulfur-containing raw materials (mainly pyrite), and import elemental sulfur.

Russia fully meets its needs thanks to its own sources of raw materials. After the discovery and development of the rich Carpathian deposits, the USSR and Poland significantly increased sulfur production. This industry continues to develop. New large enterprises were built in Ukraine, old plants on the Volga and Turkmenistan were reconstructed, and sulfur production from natural gas and waste gases.

And other industries.

In Russia they knew how to extract “flammable sulfur” from hydrogen sulfide springs in a number of places in the Northern Territory. In the mid-17th century, deposits of native sulfur were discovered in the Samara and Kazan Volga regions. it has been carried out in small quantities since the time of Peter I. By the beginning of the 20th century. its production ceased, and since 1911 Russia has been importing sulfur from other countries. In 1913, 26 thousand tons of sulfur were imported into the country.

About 50% of all reserves can be developed by open-pit mining with subsequent enrichment and smelting of sulfur from concentrates. The remaining reserves are suitable for mining using the PVA method. Developed deposits: Yazovskoye, Nemirovskoye, Rozdolskoye, Podorozhnenskoye, Zagaypolskoye in the Ciscarpathian region, Vodinskoye in the Middle Volga region, Gaurdakskoye in Central Asia. The largest enterprises for processing natural sulfur are the Rozdolsk and Yavorovsk production associations and the Gaurdak sulfur plant.

Natural sulfur is obtained using a combined method (autoclave or reagent-free) by smelting it from concentrate from sulfur ores. In open-pit mining, the technological scheme for enriching sulfur ores includes: fine grinding in an aqueous environment and flotation (for details, see Native sulfur). The total sulfur recovery with the combined method is 82-86%. The coefficient of sulfur extraction from underground smelting is 40%. The development depth is from 120 to 600 m, sometimes more.

Industrial gas sulfur is obtained from hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide during the purification of natural and associated gases, gases from the oil refining industry and non-ferrous metallurgy. Hydrogen sulfide is isolated from gases using absorption methods. Sulfur is obtained from gases (from sulfur dioxide, etc.) by reducing it with coal, etc. There are many technological schemes and modes, the effectiveness of which depends mainly on the content of sulfur-containing compounds in the processing raw materials.

Associated sulfur is obtained from gases and, the gases of which contain up to 27% .

The main types of products obtained from natural and gas sulfur are lump and liquid sulfur. GOST 127-76 "Technical sulfur" also provides for the production of granulated, ground and flaked sulfur. The specified GOST defines the production of 4 types of natural sulfur (sulfur content from 99.2 to 99.95%) and 3 types of gas sulfur (from 99 to 99.98%). For each variety, standards for the mass fraction of various impurities (%) are established: ash 0.05-0.4, acid 0.002-0.002, organic matter 0.01-0.5, moisture 0.1-1, arsenic up to 0.005, etc.

The industry for the production of natural sulfur is managed by the All-Union Association "Soyuzsera". The association is in charge of the VNIPIser Industrial Institute, Rozdolsk and Yavorovsk Production Associations, as well as the Gaurdak and Kuibyshev sulfur plants. Enterprises producing associated sulfur are subordinated mainly to the ministries of gas, oil refining, and non-ferrous metallurgy.

In socialist countries, the sulfur industry is developed in, and (for more details, see the “Mining Industry” section in articles about these countries).

Sulfur is mined and produced in approximately 60 industrialized capitalist and developing countries. Until the beginning of the 50s. 20th century it was obtained from native ores, from pyrite as the main one and from sulfur metal ores as by-products. In the 50-60s. The technology for producing sulfur from natural gas purification is becoming widespread. Similar technology began to be used in oil refining, which led to a significant increase in the scale of sulfur extraction from gases during oil cracking. The main product is elemental sulfur. The leading producers of sulfur are countries that carry out large-scale production of natural gas and oil or have large reserves of native sulfur, which is extracted, depending on the conditions of occurrence, by open-pit or borehole methods. Low-grade ores are pre-enriched. To extract sulfur from rich ores and concentrates, a combined method is used in industry. For deep-lying rich sulfur ores, the underground smelting method is used.

Among the industrialized capitalist and developing countries, the largest deposits of native sulfur are located in,. The total production of sulfur of all types in these countries in 1986 exceeded 36.7 million tons, with most of the total production occurring in industrialized capitalist countries (table).

About 51% of all sulfur was produced in the USA and. In the USA, sulfur production in 1986 amounted to about 12 million tons, of which about 5.8 million tons were elemental reduced sulfur obtained from oil refining, from natural and coke oven gases, 4 million tons were native sulfur extracted by the well method, and 1.1 million tons - sulfur contained in sulfuric acid obtained as a by-product during the metallurgical processing of non-ferrous metals, as well as in pyrite, sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide.

In Canada, sulfur is obtained mainly from natural gas purification and oil cracking (87%), as well as from pyrite concentrates, etc.

Japan ranks third in sulfur production: 2.5 million tons in 1986, of which about 1.2 million tons were obtained as a by-product of metallurgical production, 1 million tons from natural gas refining and oil cracking, and 0.2 million tons from .

The production of native sulfur in industrialized capitalist and developing countries in 1986 amounted to 6.2 million tons; since the beginning of the 80s. production levels are constantly declining. It is mined mainly in the USA, Mexico, Iraq, and Chile.

Pyrite is an important fossil type of sulfur-containing raw material, the extraction of which, like native sulfur, tends to decline. In 1985, world production of pyrite (excluding socialist countries) amounted to 4.2 million in terms of sulfur, most of the production occurred in countries Western Europe. The main producers are (30% of all production), USA, Italy.

The main exporters of sulfur are Canada, the USA, Mexico and France, but competition from oil-producing countries in the Near and Middle East is increasing. Over 1/2 of the exports of industrialized capitalist and developing countries is granulated sulfur (the main supplier is Canada), about 35% is liquid (Canada and Mexico), the rest is lump sulfur.

Sulfur ores are mined in different ways, depending on the conditions of occurrence. But in any case, you have to pay a lot of attention to safety precautions. Sulfur deposits are almost always accompanied by accumulations of toxic gases - sulfur compounds. In addition, we must not forget about the possibility of spontaneous combustion.

Open pit mining of ore occurs like this. Walking excavators remove layers of rock under which ore lies. The ore layer is crushed by explosions, after which the ore blocks are sent to a processing plant, and from there to a sulfur smelter, where sulfur is extracted from the concentrate. Extraction methods vary. Some of them will be discussed below. And here it is appropriate to briefly describe the well method of extracting sulfur from underground, which allowed the United States of America and Mexico to become the largest suppliers of sulfur.

At the end of the last century, rich deposits of sulfur ore were discovered in the southern United States. But it was not easy to approach the layers: hydrogen sulfide leaked into the mines (namely, it was planned to develop the deposit using the mine method) and blocked access to sulfur. In addition, sand floats made it difficult to break through to the sulfur-bearing layers. A solution was found by the chemist Hermann Frasch, who proposed melting sulfur underground and pumping it to the surface through wells similar to oil wells. The relatively low (less than 120°C) melting point of sulfur confirmed the reality of Frasch’s idea. In 1890, tests began that led to success.

In principle, the installation of Frasch is very simple: a pipe in a pipe. Superheated water is supplied into the space between the pipes and flows through it into the formation. And molten sulfur rises through the inner pipe, heated from all sides. The modern version of the Frasch installation is complemented by a third - the narrowest pipe. Through it, compressed air is supplied into the well, which helps raise the molten Sulfur to the surface. One of the main advantages of the Frasch method is that it allows one to obtain relatively pure sulfur already at the first stage of production. This method is very effective when mining rich ores.

Previously, it was believed that the method of underground smelting of sulfur was applicable only in the specific conditions of the “salt domes” of the Pacific coast of the United States and Mexico. However, experiments conducted in Poland and the USSR refuted this opinion. In Poland, large amounts of sulfur are already extracted using this method: in 1968, the first sulfur wells were launched in the USSR.

And ore obtained in quarries and mines has to be processed (often with preliminary enrichment), using various technological methods.

There are several known methods for obtaining sulfur from sulfur ores: steam-water, filtration, thermal, centrifugal and extraction.

Thermal methods for extracting sulfur are the oldest. Back in the 18th century. in the Kingdom of Naples, sulfur was smelted in heaps - “solfatars”. Sulfur is still smelted in Italy in primitive furnaces - “calcarones”. The heat required to smelt sulfur from ore is obtained by burning part of the mined sulfur. This process is ineffective, losses reach 45%.

In the autoclave process, enriched sulfur ore concentrate containing up to 80% sulfur is pumped into the autoclave in the form of a liquid pulp with reagents. Water steam is supplied there under pressure. The pulp is heated to 130°C. The sulfur contained in the concentrate is melted and separated from the rock. After a short settling, the melted sulfur is drained. Then the “tailings” - a suspension of waste rock in water - are released from the autoclave. The tailings contain quite a lot of sulfur and are returned to the processing plant.

In Russia, the autoclave method was first used by engineer K.G. Patkanov in 1896

In some industries, for example at a large sulfur plant in Tarnobrzeg (Poland), waste rock is separated from molten sulfur using special filters. A method for separating sulfur and waste rock using centrifuges was developed in our country. In a word, “gold ore (more precisely, golden ore) can be separated from waste rock” in different ways.

IN lately More and more attention is being paid to borehole geotechnological methods for sulfur extraction. At the Yazovskoe deposit in the Carpathian region, sulfur - a classic dielectric - is melted underground by currents high frequency and pumped to the surface through wells, as in the Frasch method. Scientists from the Institute of Mining Chemical Raw Materials have proposed a method for underground gasification of sulfur. In this method, sulfur is set on fire in the formation, and sulfur dioxide is pumped to the surface, which is used to produce sulfuric acid and other useful products.

Different countries satisfy their needs for sulfur in different ways. Mexico and the USA mainly use the Frasch method. Italy, which ranks third among capitalist states in sulfur production, continues to mine and process (different methods) sulfur ores from Sicilian deposits and the province of Marche. Japan has significant reserves of volcanic sulfur. France and Canada, which do not have native sulfur, have developed large-scale production from gases. Both England and Germany do not have their own sulfur deposits. They cover their needs for sulfuric acid by processing sulfur-containing raw materials (mainly pyrite), and import elemental sulfur from other countries.

The Soviet Union and socialist countries fully satisfy their needs thanks to their own sources of raw materials. After the discovery and development of the rich Carpathian deposits, the USSR and Poland significantly increased sulfur production. This industry continues to develop. In recent years, new large enterprises have been built in Ukraine, old plants on the Volga and in Turkmenistan have been reconstructed, and the production of sulfur from natural gas and waste gases has been expanded.

Sulfur deposits. Free sulfur in nature

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