Freeport-mcmoran Corporation

Freeport Mcmoran Resource Partners, Ltd. Partnership

James T Womack

Tadeusz K Wiewiorowski

Vivian C Astley

Jesus W Perez

Thomas A Headington

In accordance with the method of this invention, sulfur is removed from the gas stream exiting a sulfur storage tank through condensation and impingement of droplets and/or particles of elemental sulfur on the baffles and wall(s) of indirectly cooled scrubber-condenser. In order to effect the melting and return to the liquid sulfur storage tank of any sulfur collected on the baffles and wall(s) of the scrubber-condenser, said baffles and wall(s) are periodically heated, preferably with indirect steam. The scrubber-condenser apparatus of this invention is designed to effect the condensation and solidification of sulfur from the gas stream and to maximize the impingement of sulfur droplets and particles upon its baffles and internal wall(s) by repeatedly changing the flow direction of said gas stream. The scrubber-condenser is vertically mounted on a liquid sulfur storage tank and is connected directly to a vent located on top of the tank.

Reduction of particulate sulfur emissions from liquid sulfur storage

A process for recovering elemental sulfur from volcanic and non-volcanic ores is disclosed. Ore is processed by crushing the ore to a coarse particle size autoclaving to separate the sulfur from the ore, mild grinding to selectively reduce the size of the liberated sulfur particles, flotation and sulfur separation/filtration steps to produce a sulfur of at least 99% purity. The process recovers at least 90% of the elemental sulfur contained in the ore. The particular crushing of the ore and selective grinding techniques for reducing sulfur particles for reducing sulfur particles size are important factors in the efficiency of the process since the grinding techniques inhibit the formation of fine gangue which is difficult to separate from the liberated sulfur.

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Belle Chasse, LA, United States of America

James T Womack