Learn about the Extraction of Sulphur

Industrial use of sulphur has increased with new technologies coming in. This has rapidly heightened the extraction of suplhur. Today, the extraction of suplhur is done by various industries. The extracted suplhur is used for various other processes in the industries. Some companies also use extracted sulphur to create different chemicals. There are two main processes involved in extraction of sulphur.

Extraction of sulphur questions will help us understand the topic with clarity. We will first understand what extraction of sulphur is and then highlight upon extraction of sulphur questions. 

Let us begin by knowing what exactly is extraction of sulphur. 

What Is Extraction Of Sulphur?

Sulphur is a chemical element which is the 16th element of the periodic table. It is non-metallic in nature. At room temperature, it is solid yellow crystals. This chemical element has no taste or odour. Sulphur is considered as the majorly used chemical element in various industries. 

This element is used in generating various products and by-products. In fact, sulphur has its own by-product such as sulphuric acid. Scientists also consider sulphur as one of the major sources of life on earth. It has been found in the water bodies. It can easily be located as deposits near volcanoes. 

With technology moving fast and industrialization, metals and chemical elements have been excavated rigorously. Extraction of sulphur is majorly done by industrialization. The extracted sulphur is used to create the by-products too. These help in manufacturing various products such as fertilisers, detergents, fungicides and more. 

The extraction of sulphur is done through major two processes. These are the- Frasch princess and extraction through natural gas. Let us understand these processes of extraction of sulphur in detail. 

Extraction Of Sulphur Through Frasch Process

Herman Frasch is the mind behind the introduction of the frasch process for extraction of sulphur. The Frasch process is done to mine the underground sulphur and make use of it by industries. 

In the Frasch process, the melting of sulphur is done. Water is superheated around 340o F, and it is then pushed into the deposit territory of the sulphur. The penetration of the superheated is the first step for extraction of sulphur. The melting point of sulphur is 1150 C or 2400 F. Once the sulphur deposit is melted completely, it is acquired through compressed air. 

The melted sulphur has the superheated water in it too. So, once it is lifted through the compressed gas, it is left in the bin. Here, the melted sulphur is left to be solidified. It is then transported for various industrial uses. 

The first successful sulphur mining through the Frasch process was done in the year 1894. It was done at the Sulphur Mine located in Louisiana. The extraction of sulphur through this process gives around 97-99 % of pure sulphur. This process has been dominanalty carried out by the mining industry, also involved in extraction of various other elements. 

Extraction Of Sulphur Through Natural Gas

Sulphur elements can naturally be found in the natural gas. It is found in the form of various compounds. These compounds are- mercaptans, hydrogen sulphide and odorants. In this, mercaptans and hydrogen sulphide are naturally occurring compounds. The extraction of sulphur through these compounds is carried out organically in the gas plants. 

Extraction of sulphur from natural gas is also done through the Chementator process. In this process, the already extracted sulphur in the form of hydrogen sulphide is extracted. It is firstly done with amine and then changed into elemental sulphur through the Claus process. This sulphur is then burnt with oxygen. It releases sulphur dioxide that is liquefied at a temperature of 100 oF. 

Apart from all these processes of extraction of sulphur, the extraction is also done through oil extracting too. 

Extraction Of Sulphur Questions

The process of extraction of sulphur is a complex one. To ease out the understanding of this, here are some extraction of sulphur questions with answers. 

What is extraction of sulphur through the Frasch process?

Herman Frasch is the mind behind the introduction of the frasch process for extraction of sulphur. The Frasch process is done to mine the underground sulphur and make use of it by industries. In the Frasch process, the melting of sulphur is done. Water is superheated around 340o F, and it is then pushed into the deposit territory of the sulphur. The penetration of the superheated is the first step for extraction of sulphur. The melting point of sulphur is 115o C or 240o F. Once the sulphur deposit is melted completely, it is acquired through compressed air. 

The melted sulphur has the superheated water in it too. So, once it is lifted through the compressed gas, it is left in the bin. Here, the melted sulphur is left to be solidified. It is then transported for various industrial uses. The first successful sulphur mining through the Frasch process was done in the year 1894. It was done at the Sulphur Mine located in Louisiana. The extraction of sulphur through this process gives around 97-99 % of pure sulphur. This process has been dominanalty carried out by the mining industry, also involved in extraction of various other elements.

What are the health hazards of extraction of sulphur?

Mining of sulphur causes various hazards. With the environment, the miners’ health is also pushed towards adversities. Below are some hazards of extraction of sulphur. These are:

• Extraction of sulphur can push the person towards neurological damage.
• Disorders related to stomach and digestive system. 
• Weak eyesights, and allergies due to long exposure in mining. 
• Interruption in hormonal balance and dermatological issues.

What are the environmental hazards due to extraction of sulphur?

Environment is continuously being deployed to satisfy human needs. Extraction of sulphur pushes the environment closer towards the brink of disasters. The environmental hazards caused by extraction of sulphur are:

• Extraction of sulphur can lead to air pollution and acid rains. 
• It can cause brain damage in animals.
• It can terminate the entire habitat and reproduction amongst the animal kingdom. 
• Sulphur emitted in water can lead to toxicity and hence can contaminate the water. 

Conclusion

The above information is in regards to extraction of sulphur. Sulphur is a chemical element widely used in industrial processes. Extraction of sulphur is done through two processes- Frasch process and extraction from natural gas. 

The above information also includes the extraction of sulphur questions in detail.