SULFURIC ACID CATALYST
Haldor Topsoe A/S (Lyngby, Denmark; www.topsoe.com) has introduced a new catalyst for converting SO2 into sulfuric acid. VK38+ is a new potassium-promoted catalyst that has been proven to have higher activity than any other commercial potassium-promoted catalyst, regardless of which converter bed it is used in. The catalyst has already been demonstrated in two industrial plants. Through its higher activity, VK38+ has the potential for enhanced performance, higher efficiency and reduced climate footprint. VK38+ provides these performance results without the cost increases that are associated with many Cs-catalyst solutions, says Topsoe. Calculations for VK38+ show an up to 40% reduction of long-term catalyst spending and a payback time of just a few months.