Freeport Sulfur Company

Wiewiorowski A process proposed for removing hydrogen sulfide from industrial gases by reacting it with sulfur dioxide in molten sulfur in the presence of an amine catalyst. Invented by T. K. Wieriorowski at the Freeport Sulfur Company, but not known to have been commercialized. 

Although most U.S. Frasch mines were located inland, Freeport Sulfur Company pioneered offshore sulfur mining in the 1960s.15 The company utilized offshore oil drilling techniques to access several shallow water deposits. Developing a means to utilize saltwater to provide heated mine water presented the company with unique challenges in corrosion and scaling control. This now defunct facility, located in 200 ft of water 10 miles from the Mississipi Delta, commenced production in 1992 and closed in 2000. 

After the basic Frasch pioneering patent expired in 1908, new Frasch companies entered the marketplace. The first of the newcomers was the Freeport Sulfur Company, whose mine at Bryantmound, TX, opened on November 12, 1912. In 1917, the U.S., through the production of Union Sulfur and Freeport Sulfur, became the first country to produce over one million tonnes of sulfur in a single year. Production was double the record rate in Italy, which had been set in 1905. Italy remained the second largest producer followed by Japan. 

In this process, which was disclosed by Wiewiorowski (1%9) of the Freeport Sulfur Company (Anon., 1970), the reaction between hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide takes place in molten sulfur within the temperature range of 240°-320 F (low-viscosity range of liquid sulfur). A basic nitrogen compound, such as ammonia or an amine, in concentrations of 1 to 5,000 ppm is added as the catalyst. 

The young executives, who had overthrown the established management with Machiavellian efficiency, were 32 years old (Williams) and 28 years old (Whitney). Two corporate babies, Williams and Whitney, now controlled the company. Time Magazine reported (April 2, 1934) that Freeport Sulfur had the youngest management of any U.S. company. They delayed taking direct power, because... 

Table 4.3b. Frasch company summary - Freeport Sulfur...

Freeport Sulfur Co. is the world s second largest producer of native sulfur. During the 25 years ending in 1943, the company produced 15,030,374 long tonnes of sulfur, an average of 601,215 toimes a year. The annual production of 1,027,837 tonnes in 1943 represented approximately 40 percent of the total United States production. For the 25-year period, the company s production was approximately 30 percent of the total United States production. 

Rio Tinto acquired a minority ownership in Freeport McMoRan. in December of that year, Freeport McMoRan merged with IMC Global the sulfur assets, with most of the Freeport McMoran management team, were spun off as an independent company named Freeport-McMoRan Sulfur, late in the year, Freeport-McMoRan Sulfur merged with McMoRan Oil and Gas to become McMoRan Exploration Company. 

Duval Texas Sulfur diversified into potash production, which became its maj or business. In 195 0, the name of the company was changed to Duval Sulfur Potash to reflect the changing portfolio. In 1959, it also began producing copper and molybdenum. In 1953, United Gas and Pennzoil merged, and the semi-independent business became Duval Corporation ten years later. The Frasch mine at Culberson, TX, opened by Duval in 1969, was the second last Frasch mine to close (then owned by Freeport) in the U.S. in 1999. The sulfur removed from this single mine was valued at over 600 million. The name Duval disappeared in... 

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