Abstracto

Recovery of values from spent high temperature shift catalysts of urea fertilizer factory

A.J.Siddik, M.A.Rahim, S.Ahmed, A.S.W.Kurny

Spent high temperature shift (HTS) catalyst of urea fertilizer factory containing 59% iron and 6% chromium has been roasted with sodium carbonate. Iron contained in the catalyst was converted to iron oxide and chromium to sodium chromate. The conditions for the formation of brown and black iron oxides have been established. The possibilities to produce lead chromate from sodium chromate have also been examined. The composition and the structure of the iron oxide pigment produced compares well with the iron oxide pigment available commercially. The results obtained suggest that an acceptable technical, commercial and environment friendly solution to the disposal the spent high temperature shift catalysts through recovery of values contained in it is available.