Propuesta de diseño de planta piloto para la producción de azufre elemental y cal hidratada

Abstract

El presente trabajo de investigación es una propuesta de diseño de una planta piloto para la producción de cal hidratada y azufre elemental. Se realizó con la finalidad de cumplir las necesidades de una empresa, especializada en el procesamiento hidrometalúrgico de minerales, la cual está en busca de expandir su mercado con productos que tengan un mercado creciente en Guatemala. Para esto, se llevó a cabo la identificación de las diferentes etapas y operaciones unitarias del proceso; se elaboraron los balances de masa y energía, a partir de una base de cálculo de 100 toneladas de yeso dihidratado; se dimensionó y seleccionó los equipos adecuados.

This research work is a proposal for the design of a pilot plant for the production of hydrated lime and elemental sulfur. It was carried out with the purpose of meeting the needs of a company specialized in the hydrometallurgical processing of minerals, which seeks to expand its market with products that have a growing demand in Guatemala. For this purpose, the different stages and unit operations of the process were identified; mass and energy balances were developed based on a calculation basis of 100 tons of dihydrate gypsum; the appropriate equipment was dimensioned and selected, and the economic analysis of the process was conducted. It was determined that the main stages are, the reduction of gypsum to calcium sulfide through carbothermic reduction, the hydration of calcium sulfide to generate hydrated lime and hydrogen sulfide, and the conversion of hydrogen sulfide through the Claus process. Therefore, the identified unit operations were placed in the block diagram. It was obtained that from 100 tons of dihydrate gypsum in one day, 2,291.434 kg/h of hydrated lime and 2,975.268 kg/h of elemental sulfur are produced. Technical datasheets were prepared with the specifications of the plant equipment, which include the necessary dimensions. The process was determined to be profitable, as the internal rate of return (IRR) of 39.83% is higher than the minimum acceptable rate of return (MARR) of 17%. Thus, it is convenient to invest in a pilot plant.