The Effect of Deposit Temperature on the Catalytic SO 2 -to-SO 3 Conversion in a Copper Flash Smelting Heat Recovery Boiler

The aim of the work was to study the catalytic role of copper flash smelter deposit in the SO 2 -to-SO 3 conversion. In addition, the effect of process gas temperature at 548 K to 1173 K (275 °C to 900 °C) on the amount of SO 3 formed was addressed both in the absence and presence of genuine copper flash smelter deposit. The SO 3 conversion rate changed as a function of process gas temperature, peaking at 1023 K (750 °C). A dramatic increase in the SO 2 -to-SO 3 conversion was observed when process dust was present, clearly indicating that process dust catalyzes the SO 2 -to-SO 3 conversion. Based on these results, the catalytic ability of the deposit may lead to sulfuric acid dew point corrosion.