Frasch process

Frasch process

The Frasch process is a method to extract sulfur from underground deposits. Most of the world's sulfur is obtained this way.

Holes are drilled down through the overlying rock into the sulfur deposits. A special series of pipes are then inserted into the drill hole. The pipes are arranged in a circular pattern. The outer pipes will contain superheated steam (usually about 160 °C) which is pumped down into the deposit.

Since the melting point of sulfur is so low (115.21 °C, just a little over the boiling point of water), it readily liquefies. As the sulfur becomes molten, it is removed by pumping air down the central pipe. When the molten sulfur reaches the surface, it is pumped onto wooden blocks where the sulfur again solidifies.

The Frasch process is able to produce sulfur of very high purity, often above 99%.

History

In 1867, miners discovered sulfur hidden under quicksand in Louisiana and Texas. The German born American chemist, Herman Frasch, devised a new method of sulfur removal which was used to mine the sulfur using pipes to avoid the quicksand. The process proved successful, on December 24, 1894, when the first molten sulfur was brought to the surface. The process is still used all over the world.

External links

*cite web | work = General Chemistry Principles and Modern Applications, Eighth Edition (companion website) | author = Ralph H. Petrucci, William S. Harwood, F. Geoffrey Herring, Narayan S. Hosmane | publisher = Prentice Hall | url = http://cwx.prenhall.com/petrucci/medialib/media_portfolio/text_images/FG23_07.jpg| title = Image of Frasch process
*cite web | url = http://www.tiscali.co.uk/reference/encyclopaedia/hutchinson/m0016504.html | title = Frasch process | publisher = tiscali.reference


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  • Frasch process — /frahsh/ a method of mining sulfur by pumping superheated water down into the deposit, thereby melting it so that it can be pumped to the surface. [after Hermann Frasch, German born U.S. chemical engineer, who developed it] * * * ▪ mining… …   Universalium

  • frasch process — ˈfräsh noun or frasch method Usage: usually capitalized F Etymology: after Herman Frasch died 1914 American chemist born in Germany, its inventor : a method of mining deep lying sulfur by forcing into the deposit very hot water and pumping out… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Frasch — may refer to:*North Frisian language *Frasch process, a chemical process used to extract underground sulfur …   Wikipedia

  • Frasch, Herman — ▪ American chemist born Dec. 25, 1851, Gaildorf, Württemberg died May 1, 1914, Paris       U.S. chemist who devised the sulfur mining process named in his honour. The Frasch process, patented in 1891, was first used successfully in Louisiana and… …   Universalium

  • frasch method — noun see frasch process …   Useful english dictionary

  • Herman Frasch — Herman Frasch, Hermann Frasch (December 25, 1851, Oberrot bei Gaildorf, Württemberg May 1, 1914, Paris) was a mining engineer and inventor. In October 20, 1890, he took out three patents for the Frasch Process.He emigrated to the US in 1868. In… …   Wikipedia

  • Industrial process — Industrial processes are procedures involving chemical or mechanical steps to aid in the manufacture of an item or items, usually carried out on a very large scale.Industrial processes are the key components of heavy industry.Most processes make… …   Wikipedia

  • sulfur — /sul feuhr/, n. 1. Also, esp. Brit., sulphur. Chem. a nonmetallic element that exists in several forms, the ordinary one being a yellow rhombic crystalline solid, and that burns with a blue flame and a suffocating odor: used esp. in making… …   Universalium

  • mining — /muy ning/, n. 1. the act, process, or industry of extracting ores, coal, etc., from mines. 2. the laying of explosive mines. [1250 1300; ME: undermining (walls in an attack); see MINE2, ING1] * * * I Excavation of materials from the Earth s… …   Universalium

  • Sulfur — This article is about the chemical element. For other uses, see Sulfur (disambiguation). phosphorus ← sulfur → chlorine …   Wikipedia

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