Safford completed building and commissioning its new $150 million sulphuric acid plant placed on hold nearly two years ago because of the economic downturn.

The acid now being produced at the plant will be used to leach copper ore from the Dos Pobres pit at the Safford Mine in Arizona.  The plant will provide long-term benefits to the Safford Operations.  Sixteen employees in Safford’s Hydromet Division will operate and maintain the facility, which has the capacity to produce 1,450 tons of sulphuric acid per day.

Sulphuric acid is produced in the plant by igniting pure sulphur in a furnace.  The combustion produces sulphur dioxide (SO2) and a great amount of heat.  The SO2 gas is then converted into SO3, the principal ingredient in sulphuric acid, through a series of catalyst beds.

Not only does the plant produce the sulphuric acid, but the heat created in the process is used to produce high-pressure steam that drives a turbine to generate 15 megawatts of electricity.  The electricity is being used by the plant and other facilities, including the tankhouse, reducing the electrical power that would otherwise be purchased from the local utilities.