Abstract: A liquid separator system for separating molten sulfur from liquid redox solution or reslurry water. The system includes a vessel with a top part and a bottom part. The vessel has a larger diameter at the top part than at the bottom part, and the cross section of the vessel downwardly decreases from the top part to the bottom part of the vessel. The system also includes an inlet for introducing a redox solution or reslurry water and molten sulfur, which is denser than redox solution or reslurry water, into the vessel. An outlet near the bottom part of the vessel allows a flow of the molten sulfur from the vessel. An interface control structure senses an interface level between the redox solution or reslurry water and the molten sulfur, and the interface control structure controls the flow of molten sulfur from the outlet.

Abstract: For separating sulfur from a sulfur-lye suspension, the suspension is fed into a flooded separation tank, a temperature above the melting temperature of sulfur is maintained in the separation tank, and liquid sulfur and lye are withdrawn from the separation tank. To reduce the formation of sodium thiosulfate, the area of the interfacial separation layer between liquid sulfur and lye is maintained as small as possible in separation tank (15) by providing that the liquid sulfur be fed into a relatively small diameter vertical separation pipe (4), in which the separation layer (6) between liquid sulfur and lye is established, and the liquid sulfur is drained out through separation pipe (4). (FIG.

Abstract: An improved process for separating sulfur from low grade surface ore is disclosed. The process involves mixing small particles of sulfur ore with a dilute aqueous solution of an agent to form a slurry. The agent used should be capable of combining with the gangue constituent of the sulfur ore particles such that the overall density of the combination of agent and gangue is substantially less than the density of the aqueous solution. The slurry is heated to a temperature under pressure so as to liquefy the sulfur and yet maintain substantially all of the water in liquid form. The slurry is agitated while heated, forming a dispersion of small sulfur droplets in the aqueous medium. The presence of the dilute agent allows the mixture to settle by gravity to form a molten sulfur phase and an aqueous gangue phase. The sulfur product is recovered as a single continuous phase of molten sulfur.

Abstract: For the separation of sulfur from a sulfur/alkaline solution suspension, the suspension is heated to a temperature above the melting temperature of the sulfur and is introduced under pressure into a separating tank 1, containing a separating chamber 8, alkaline solution chamber, and sulfur chamber 12. From the separating tank, settled liquid sulfur is continuously withdrawn, on the one hand, via conduit 16 and alkaline solution is continuously withdrawn, on the other hand, via conduit 9. In order to provide a system having little susceptibility to trouble, the separating chamber and alkaline solution chamber are operated in the flooded mode, thereby avoiding the necessity for a steam blanket therein.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for recovering sulfur from an aqueous slurry. The slurry is passed downwardly through a shell-and-tube heat exchanger having vertically arranged tubes, wherein it is heated sufficiently to melt the sulfur. The liquid mixture leaving the heat exchanger is discharged into a first separation zone, in which a phase separation between the lighter aqueous phase and the denser liquid sulfur occurs. The upper aqueous phase is then transported to an intermediate point in the height of a vertically elongated second separation zone, while the molten sulfur is transported from the lower end of the first separation zone to a point adjacent the lower end of said second separation zone, in which an interface between the phases is maintained at a point below the entry point of the aqueous liquid phase into the second separation zone. The aqueous liquid is discharged from the top of the second separation zone, while molten sulfur is discharged from the bottom of said zone.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a novel sulfur remelting method and an apparatus for employing the method. The method of remelting sulfur from a solid sulfur block may be comprised of generating super-heated liquid sulfur, spraying the super-heated liquid sulfur on the face of the solid sulfur block to thereby melt sulfur from the face of the block, and collecting the liquid sulfur generated in a collecting tank which maintains the sulfur in a liquid condition. The apparatus utilized for remelting sulfur from a solid sulfur block may comprise means for generating super-heated liquid sulfur and spray means for directing the super-heated liquid sulfur at high velocity at the face of the block to melt sulfur from the face of the block.

Abstract: A suspension of sulfur in a scrubbing liquid is preheated with steam to a temperature above the melting point of the sulfur so that the latter spontaneously melts in the suspension which is introduced into a separating chamber in a sealed vessel. The scrubbing liquid is decanted over a weir into a second chamber while the molten sulfur is drawn out at the bottom into a third chamber. The separating chamber is maintained at a pressure and temperature, by a vapor cushion above the liquid, such that evaporation of the incoming liquid does not occur, i.e. the separation pressure is the saturation pressure of the cushion. To prevent vapor condensation on the molten sulfur, the latter is maintained at a temperature higher than that of the liquid in the adjacent separating chamber.

Abstract: Crystalline sulfur particles of predetermined, controlled, relative attrition resistance having diameters less than about 0.5 inch are formed by shock-crystallizing fused sulfur in an agitated quench medium by controlling the fused sulfur temperature at a predetermined level about 238.degree. F. and below 340.degree. F. correlated with the relative particle hardness desired, and controlling the sulfur-quench temperature gradient at a level of at least about 100.degree. F. Crystalline particles having higher relative attrition resistance are obtained at higher fused sulfur temperatures and higher quenching temperature gradients.

Abstract: Apparatus for continuously separating sulfur from an aqueous sulfur suspension which is heated above the melting point of sulfur. The apparatus comprises a pressure vessel having heating and stirring devices in its upper part, the lower part of the vessel serving as a settling tank where sulfur is precipitated out of the aqueous solution and withdrawn through an outlet in the bottom of the vessel. Inclined separator plates extend within an outer annular chamber formed between the vessel and heating device. Intermediate the upper and lower parts of the vessel is a substantially horizontal, shallow conical partition which has apertures or slots therein to permit the suspension to pass from the upper part to the lower part. A steam-heated jacket surrounds the vessel. Pressure sensing devices are utilized to maintain the level of the water in the top part and the boundary surface between the water phase and the sulfur phase in the bottom part at desired heights.

Abstract: Apparatus for continuously separating sulfur from an aqueous sulfur suspension which is heated above the melting point of sulfur. The apparatus comprises a pressure vessel having heating and stirring means in its upper part, the lower part of the vessel serving as a settling tank where sulfur is precipitated out of the aqueous solution and withdrawn through an outlet in the bottom of the vessel. Intermediate the upper and lower parts of the vessel is a substantially horizontal, shallow conical partition which has apertures or slots therein to permit the suspension to pass from the upper part to the lower part. A steam-heated jacket surrounds the vessel; while pressure sensing devices are utilized to maintain the level of the water in the top part and the boundary surface between the water phase and the sulfur phase in the bottom part at desired heights.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating solvent from liquid sulfur. The invention entails introducing an emulsion of liquid sulfur and a solvent of lower specific gravity into a first zone of a separator segregating the emulsion behind a sloped baffle to allow breaking of the emulsion with the solvent rising above the sulfur to form a separate layer of liquid; restraining the liquid sulfur behind a second baffle having sufficient clearance from the floor of the vessel to allow sulfur to flow thereunder while forming a second zone of liquid behind this baffle in which a collecting chamber is arranged so that solvent flows from a separated upper layer of liquid over a trapout weir into the chamber to be removed; and downstream of the second baffle a restraining weir of sufficient height to maintain an operating level in the second zone allowing the overflow of solvent into the collecting chamber with liquid sulfur overflowing the restraining weir into a collection means.

Abstract: Apparatus for melting sulphur, including an upstanding tube, or tubes, each being adapted to receive solid sulphur in its top open end and each having a heating jacket therearound. The sulphur along the tube wall is melted and caused to flow along the wall surface and out of the lower end of the tube. A heated plate is spaced from the lower end of the tube whereby flow of the melted sulphur from the tube is permitted, additional sulphur being melted by the plate, and flow of solid sulphur is stopped. The plate is sloped to permit the flow of the liquid sulphur into a trough for flow for storage or use elsewhere.A method of melting sulphur by which solid sulphur is fed into the upper end of a vertical tube. The tube is heated to melt the sulphur against the tube wall. A film of melted sulphur is caused to flow down the wall and out of the tube bottom onto a sloping, heated plate and into a trough for removal or use. The flow of solid sulphur is stopped by the plate.