K.P.’s Search For New Plant

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31341, 11 April 1967, Page 21

K.P.’s Search For New Plant

Before a final decision was made by Kempthorne Prosser and Company regarding the type of sulphuric acid plant to be obtained the company's works superintendent, Mr P. M. Roberts, of Auckland, and consulting engineer, Mr R. D. Evison, of Wellington, visited Europe to examine new developments. Chemical plants were examined in Gennany, Belgium, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The latest developments in sulphuric acid manufacture, including the “inter-absorption” modification of the contact process, were carefully examined. This process was developed for use in sulphuric acid plants utilising metallurgical gases, or gases derived from burning iron pyrites, and gives a considerably greater efficiency of utilisation of the sulphur in the raw material than was previously possible. At the time of the visit, the process was just being extended to a few of the very newest sulphur burning sulphuric acid plants and, as a result of the investigations, provision has been made In the Hornby plant for future incorporation of this development.

The addition of the interabsorption equipment will make possible a future increase in production capacity of 40 per cent combined

with an actual reduction in the quantity of sulphur dioxide gas lost to the atmosphere.

Mr Roberts also visited Florida, where there is the largest concentration of phosphatic fertiliser production in the world, to examine methods of combating aerial pollution. As a result of this investigation a gas scrubber of a type used in Florida is being installed at the Hornby Works.