Determination of Sulfur Oxides in the Flue Gases of the Pulping Processes

The body of information presented in this paper is directed to the operating personnel and process engineers employed in the power and recovery departments of a chemical pulping operation. The proper evaluation of the total analytical and sampling system (TASS), to be used in the determination of sulfur oxides is as important as a proper analytical and recording system (ARS). The presence of other sulfur gaseous compounds and particulates could greatly influence the results of the determination.

The analytical method employed determines sulfur dioxide and trioxide from an aliquot of the trapping solution, 3% hydrogen peroxide and 8 0% isopropyl alcohol respectively. The aliquot is titrated with barium perchlorate in the presence of Thorin indicator. The results of evaluating the method indicated negligible interference from the presence of hydrogen sulfide, mercaptans and nitrogen oxides. A blank correction of 15 parts per million (ppm) is recommended whenever 100 ppm of hydrogen sulfide or more are simultaneously present in the gas stream. Particulaies are shown to interfere either by addition or subtraction. Sulfate particulates that will add to the determination must be removed, but in doing so, care must be exerted to avoid surface-contacting conditions that promote reaction between carbonates and the sulfur oxides. The integrated method of sampling and analysis will permit determinations from a flue gas with sulfur oxides concentrations of 30 ppm and above. The relative standard deviation improves from 10% at 100 ppm SO₂ to 2.6% at 1000 ppm SO₂. In both cases, sulfides were present.