Abstract: A pump sealing device includes a packing box whose packing (3) is disposed around a drive shaft (2) of the pump where the shaft passes through the pump body (1). The packing is acted on by a gland (4). At least two levers (5), each of which pivots on a respective pin (6), are arranged so that one end of each lever is able to exert a predetermined pressure on said rammer as soon as the pump stops and conversely to reduce the pressure to zero or substantially zero before the pump is started. The other ends of the levers are linked to means (8) to cause the levers to rotate about the pins.The device can be used in any type of pump, and in particular in pumps for corrosive liquids.

Abstract: A process for purifying combustion gases by removing the sulfur dioxide which they contain and for producing sulfuric acid, consisting in rinsing said gases by means of an aqueous solution capable of oxidizing said sulfur dioxide, said rinsing operation being effected in the presence of oxygen, characterized in that said aqueous rinsing solution comprises at least one element capable of combining with said sulfur dioxide to form within the aqueous solution and in the presence of sulfuric acid a sulfur type intermediate coordination complex capable of cooperating with oxygen and said element to produce at least one oxidizing compound (product) capable of oxidizing said sulfur dioxide at a rapid rate.