Multicomponent Sulphur Composite Using Inorganic Waste From Petrochemical Industry: Synthesis & Characterization

Abstract

Chemical industry called as most diversified industrial sectors that performs key steps in converting raw materials into utilizable products like paints, types of plastics for wide range of applications, fertilizers, synthetic rubber etc. Chemical industries provides building blocks for mainly downstream industry like Textiles, Pharmaceutical, Paints, detergents etc., from all these industries, petrochemical industry is major concern because it produces varieties of products that builds huge impact for survival of human life and it is the main source of energy in the world today. As varieties of products produce through petrochemical industry and simultaneously it is also generating waste as well as side products which required additional management for handling. Major petrochemical waste and side products are oil spillage, VOC, refused catalyst and elemental sulfur from desulfurization unit. Huge quantity of elemental sulfur is generated from desulfurization unit of petrochemical industries and due to strict environmental regulation by government agency, it is necessary to take mandatory action for oil-industry to compulsory reduce the amount of sulfur in their fuel products. Due to this action elemental sulfur generated incrementally in all over the world form petrochemical plants. Numbers of applications have been found for effective use of elemental sulfur like, in fertilizers, sulfuric acid, making of Li-s battery etc. Though presence of all these applications, the consumption rate of sulfur is very lower compared to its generation rate. Another inorganic waste that is generated in petrochemicals industry from fluidized catalytic cracking unit, where deactivated catalyst consider as a spent, and disposed of because of minor applications have been found for it. Elemental sulfur and spent FCC catalyst both have important characteristics that can be useful in construction material, as construction industry facing different problems related to their potentiality of construction material in accordance to their strength, durability in extreme weather or environmental conditions, other environmental problems related to production of cement, fly ash etc. because it generate greenhouse gases during production of cement, also thermal effects during production of cement concrete like chemicals present in cement can burn the skin of workers etc. In this study sulfur composites prepared from the sulfur & spent FCC for making usefulness in construction material, property of elemental sulfur can be enhance through modifying elemental sulfur with the help of different organic modifier. Unmodified sulfur fails by repeating cycles of freezing and thawing, humid conditions therefore to get desire property for construction application modified sulfur is used Characterization of modified sulfur prepared form 1,5 cyclooctadiene and Trans, trans-1,4 Diphenyl-1,3-Butadiene modifier confirmed through XRD and IR.In this study prepared sulfur polymer concrete (SPC) using modified sulfur and spent FCC for further experimental work. Prepared SPC tested against critical environmental conditions like immersing in different concentration of sulfuric acid for acidic environment, sodium hydroxide for alkaline atmosphere and in sodium chloride for saline conditions, the results compared with standard Portland cement concrete by providing same environmental conditions. Durability tested with reference to physical and chemical effects occurred after immersion. From the results through all conditions it can be said that sulfur polymer concrete is more durable, cost-effective and eco-friendly compared to Portland cement concrete.