Sulfuric Acid Plant - Savings and improved environmental performance

Sodium and Sulfur are essential chemical elements at a kraft pulp mill and they play a vital role in the quality pulp production. Balancing these chemicals directly attributes to the efficiency of the pulp mill. Reduced sulfur in pulp mill odorous gases can be converted to sulfuric acid and this internally produced acid closes the chemical circulation and brings the economic and environmental gains.

Sulfuric acid plant production process

Concentrated non-condensable gases (CNCG) are collected and lead to a collection tank, from which they are taken to a separate incinerator. In the separate incinerator, total reduced sulfur compounds in the CNCG are oxidized into SO2. The flue gas from the boiler is led to a catalytic reaction vessel. The catalyst oxidizes SO2 by using excess oxygen supplied through combustion air into SO3. Flue gases from the catalytic converter are passed into a condensing tower. The temperature of the flue gases is reduced with the cooling liquid and the SO3 in the flue gases reacts with H2O to produce sulfuric acid.

First installation in successful operation

The first sulfuric acid plant of this type was started up in 2017 and has been continuously operating at Äänekoski Metsä Bioproduct mill, Finland. The plant was ready on-time and has been able to produce sulfuric acid of excellent quality surpassing all the criteria set for externally sourced sulfuric acid. This integrated sulfuric acid plant is a true win-win-win solution. This is an environmental investment with a tangible financial payback in chemical savings. 

Sulfuric acid plant at the Äänekoski bioproduct mill