Our small Sulfuric Acid Recovery System is comprised (from right to left) of a One-cell Reactor tank, a conical Crystal Settling tank, and a hopper which drains residual liquid from the ferrous sulfate crystals. The hopper, while not as effective as a centrifuge, is a less expensive alternative for small plants.
Outside of the Reactor Tank
Inside of the Reactor Tank. The immersion exchangers circulate near freezing water to drop the temperature of the incoming acid and encourage the formation of iron sulfate crystals. (ladder not included)
The conical Crystal Settling tank is connected to the Reactor tank. Crystals settle to the bottom where they are pumped to the hopper. Cleaned, recovered acid from the top of the tank overflows into the Pump Back Station which returns it to the pickle tanks.
Bursts of compressed air at the bottom of the Crystal Settling tank prevent crystals from clogging the lines as they travel to the hopper.
Crystals drain in the Hopper and are manually dumped into one-ton sacks. Larger systems are equipped with a centrifuge, resulting in a drier ferrous sulfate crystal.
Due to the temperate weather in this part of South America, the system is located outdoors. The square unit at the left of the photo is the chiller which provides cold water to the system. The small conical tank in the middle of the photo is our Pump Back Station for recovered acid.
Front view of the completed installation.
This system recycles 6.6 tons of acid per day.
