Gay-Lussac tower

His paper on the reactions that take place in the Gay-Lussac towers of sulfuric acid plants resulted from his successful experiments on the absorption of obnoxious sulfur dioxide fumes from an ultramarine plant In order to analyze the gases, he invented the Winkler gas buret with a three-way stopcock, and perfected his own methods. In the meantime he made his living by producing nickel and cobalt on a commercial scale. 

E.R. Riegel, "Indusrrial Chemistry", Reinhold, NY (1942), 19 (Gay-Lussac Tower)... 

Gay.Lussac Acid. The sulfuric acid—nitrogen oxides mixture which ts the product of the Gay-Lussac tower in the chamber process for manuf of sulfuric acid. The sulfuric acid strength of Gay-Lussac acid is 60°B and nitrogen oxides content (calcd as.NaOg) 1—2% Ref CondChemDict (1961), 529-L (1971), not found... 

The Gay-Lussac Tower.—On leaving the chambers the gases contain only traces of sulphur dioxide, and are red in colour on account of the presence of the oxides of nitrogen. The latter are removed by leading the mixture to a circular tower, or sometimes two towers, the height of which may be 26 to 65 feet and the capacity about 4 per cent, that of the chambers. For convenience in the arrangement of the works the Gay-Lussac towers are usually built near the Glover tower. 

There is, however, some loss of the valuable nitrous gases, necessitating the introduction of small quantities of nitric acid at or before the Glover tower or into the chamber itself (see before) the loss is probably due mainly to the reduction of the oxides to nitrous oxide and even nitrogen, which are not absorbed in the Gay-Lussac tower.1... 

Theory of the Action in the Gay-Lussac and Glover Towers.— The gases issuing from the chambers consist mainly of nitrogen dioxide, nitric oxide and atmospheric nitrogen. The two former are dissolved by the sulphuric acid in the Gay-Lussac tower with formation of a solution of nitrosylsulphuric acid in excess of sulphuric acid (see also below) ... 

Free nitrosylsulphuric acid actually occurs in the lead chambers only under abnormal conditions of working its separation as chamber crystals is most undesirable from the manufacturer s point of view, as not only does it indicate improper regulation of the process, but it also causes the lead walls of the chambers to be attacked unduly. A solution of violet acid is sometimes obtained at the bottom of the Gay-Lussac tower. 

Subsequent Treatment of the Acid.—The acid from the Glover tower generally contains flue dust (largely ferric oxide), on which account it is used up in the acid factory itself, part being returned to the Gay-Lussac tower and part being used for the preparation of sodium sulphate. For this reason it is not essential that pure nitric acid should be introduced at the Glover tower, and frequently an aqueous solution of the cheaper sodium nitrate is used in its place. 

From the foregoing reactions, it is seen that nitric oxide is liberated upon formation of sulfuric acid. In order to avoid the loss of this catalyst, the gases that leave the last chamber are led upward through the packed Gay-Lussac tower, against a downward spray of concentrated sulfuric acid. Nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide are dissolved by virtue of the reformation of nitrosylsulfuric acid ... 

The Gay-Lussac tower in sulphuric acid plants was invented in 1827 but first used in 1842. The Glover tower, invented in 1859 by a chemical plumber, John Glover (Newcastle on Tyne 2 February 1817-1 May 1902), came into general use in Widnes in 1868-70. Gay-Lussac s son Jules worked with Pelouze on salicin and with Liebig in Giessen on paraffin. ... 

Sulfuric acid production was for decades the industrialization index of any country due to its use for the production of a number of chemicals from dyes to explosives. The first method available was the lead chambers by Rosenbrock in 1746. The need for more concentrated sulfuric acid improved the process with the addition of the Gay-Lussac Tower in 1835 and the Glover tower in 1859. However, the concentration of sulfuric acid, around 60%, was not enough for the growing ch ical industry. Thus, the contact method was developed based on heterogeneous catalysis. The method consists of obtaining SO2 from sulfur or pyrite by burning them. The next stage involves the equilibrium ... 

Chaumy, Gay-Lussac tower Nitrogen oxides absorbed at outlet of lead chambers to allow catalyst (oxides of nitrogen) recovery. First use at Chaumy in 1842 and Glasgow in 1844. Little used until Glover tower became available. 

Glover tower Nitrous oxides recovered from Gay-Lussac tower. Slow acceptance. First use 1859 at Washington, Co Durham, UK. 

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