One of the most widely used chemicals in the world is sulfuric acid and is also considered a criterion for evaluating the industrialization of each country. Many important chemicals such as hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, nitric acid, and many chemical fertilizers are produced using sulfuric acid. Sulfuric acid is also used in many industries producing organic materials such as various oils and for extracting various minerals such as zinc, aluminum, magnesium, etc.
The main process for producing sulfuric acid is through the burning of sulfur or the metallurgical method. These are two different methods for supplying the SO2 gas used for production. In sulfur burning units, molten sulfur reacts with dry air obtained by passing through a drying tower in a furnace and produces SO2. This amount of gas, which contains SO2, O2, N2 and a small amount of unreacted sulfur, and the temperature will be in the range of 800 to 850 °C, which enters the boiler on its way and will decrease to 435 °C and then enter the first bed of the converter. In metallurgical units, the exhaust gas from copper smelting converters contains some SO2 and a very small amount of SO3 along with dust and has a temperature of about 400 °C. In order to dedust and regulate the gas temperature as an input feed to the acid production section, it enters the Gas cleaning and Quench Tower, Venturi Scrubber, Scrubber cooling Tower and WESP units, respectively. After passing through the above equipment, the gas is a dust-free gas and has a percentage of SO2, O2, N2 and H2O. After passing through the drying tower (for dehumidification) and heat exchanger) to increase the temperature to 432 °C, it is ready to enter the first bed of the converter. About One-third of the weight of sulfuric acid with a concentration of 98% is sulfur, and the rest consists of water and oxygen. This has led to the majority of cases in locating production units, choosing this unit near the place of consumption, because this can reduce transportation costs by more than 30%.
Ivan Chemical Industries Complex Company (2451 Cooperative) was established in Ilam province in 1385 and started its activity in 1394 in the field of sulfuric acid production with the aim of optimal production and exploitation and creation of employment in that deprived area, which in 1396 as was recognized as the best cooperative.