Global Sulfur Production

Figure 9.8. Global reaction mechanism for the hydrodesulfurization of thiophene, in which the first step involves hydrogenation of the unsaturated ring, followed by cleavage ofthe C-S bond in two steps. Butadiene is assumed to be the first sulfur-free product,...

Rolston, D. E. (1981). Nitrous oxide and nitrogen gas production in fertilizer loss. In "Denitrification, Nitrification, and Atmospheric Nitrous Oxide" (C. C. Delwiche, ed.), pp. 127-149. John Wiley, New York. Rosswall, T. (1976). The internal nitrogen cycle between microorganisms, vegetation, and soil. In "Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Sulfur-Global Cycles" (B. H. Svensson and R. Soderlund, eds.). Ecol. Bull. 22, 157-167. 

In 1996, the total nameplate capacity for sulfuric acid in Canada was 5,681 kilotons and in the United States it was 36,306 kilotons. In 1993, the total global production of sulfuric acid was close to 135.3 megatons. Some growth is expected in the Middle East and North Africa. In Canada and the United States, sulfuric acid is transported primarily by rail and truck. Long-distance transport of sulfuric acid from smelters in remote locations makes freight costs extremely high. 

Plant nutrient sulfur has been growing in importance worldwide as food production trends increase while overall incidental sulfur inputs diminish. Increasing crop production, reduced sulfur dioxide emissions, and shifts in fertilizer sources have led to a global increase of crop nutritional sulfur deficiencies. Despite the vital role of sulfur in crop nutrition, most of the growth in world fertilizer consumption has been in sulfiir-free nitrogen and phosphoms fertilizers (see Fertilizers). 

Agriculture is the largest industry for sulfur consumption. Historically, the production of phosphate fertilizers has driven the sulfur market. Phosphate fertilizers account for approximately 60% of the sulfur consumed globally. Thus, although sulfur is an important plant nutrient in itself, its greatest use in the fertilizer industry is as sulfuric acid, which is needed to break down the chemical and physical stmcture of phosphate rock to make the phosphate content more available to plant life. Other mineral acids, as well as high temperatures, also have the abiUty to achieve this result. Because of market price and availabiUty, sulfuric acid is the most economic method. About 90% of sulfur used in the fertilizer industry is for the production of phosphate fertilizers. Based on this technology, the phosphate fertilizer industry is expected to continue to depend on sulfur and sulfuric acid as a raw material. 

Natural gas will continue to be substituted for oil and coal as primary energy source in order to reduce emissions of noxious combustion products particulates (soot), unburned hydrocarbons, dioxins, sulfur and nitrogen oxides (sources of acid rain and snow), and toxic carbon monoxide, as well as carbon dioxide, which is believed to be the chief greenhouse gas responsible for global warming. Policy implemented to curtail carbon emissions based on the perceived threat could dramatically accelerate the switch to natural gas. 

Therefore, polysulfide ions play a major role in the global geological and biological sulfur cycles [1, 2]. In addition, they are reagents in important industrial processes, e.g., in desulfurization and paper production plants. It should be pointed out however that only sulfide, elemental sulfur and sulfate are thermodynamically stable under ambient conditions in the presence of water, their particular stabihty region depending on the redox potential and the pH value [3] ... 

Marine mineral resources, global, 17 685t Marine oil production facilities, 24 256 Marine pollution, sulfur and, 23 589 Marine Pollution Treaty (MARPOL), sulfur limit by, 23 589... 

Malin G (1996) The role of DMSP and DMS in the global sulfur cycle and climate regulation. In Kiene RP, Visscher P, Keller M, Kirst GO (eds) Biological and environmental chemistry of DMSP and related sulfonium compounds. Plenum, New York, pp 177-189 Malin G (1997) Sulphur, climate and the microbial maze. Nature 387 857-859 Malin G, Kirst GO (1997) Algal production of dimethyl sulfide and its atmospheric role. J Phycol 33 889-896... 

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