TRANSPORTATION OF SULPHUR FROM SOLID SULPHUR DEPOSITS , IN BLOCKS OF LARGE DIMENSIONS

The present invention relates to a procedure for the low-risk and zero-emission transportation of sulphur from solid sulphur deposits, in blocks of large dimensions (in the order of hundreds of meters) .

These large dimensioned blocks can be produced using aluminium panels which are removed after the solidification of the sulphur (pouring) or using reinforced PSE (expanded polystyrene) sheets, as described in the patent application IT-MI2004A001644.

The transportation of sulphur in the solid state, de- posited in large dimensioned blocks is effected, after being liquefied, in two different ways:

• in the liquid state, in insulated tanks

• in the solid state, in the form of granulates (pellets) with low powder emissions. These procedures have several problems relating to:

• serious consequences in the case of accidents and pouring of the liquid (at 130 ⁰ C) with pollution of the ground and damage to persons;

• possible explosion of the solid granulates and, in any case, a certain percentage of emissions during transportation, particularly during loading and unloading operations .

We have now found a procedure effected with the use of blocks having suitable dimensions, which allows the draw- backs of the technologies of the known art currently used for the transportation of sulphur, to be eliminated.

The procedure object of the present invention for the low-risk and zero-emission transportation of sulphur from solid sulphur deposits, in large dimensioned blocks, is characterized in that it comprises the formation of sulphur blocks, having suitable dimensions for being moved, by means of water-cut techniques and the wrapping of said blocks obtained, in polyethylene sheets.

More specifically, this procedure preferably comprises the following steps:

• formation of blocks, having dimensions suitable for being moved, by water-cut techniques;

• wrapping of the blocks thus obtained in polyethylene sheets ; • fixing of the blocks on an appropriate base suitable

for being moved;

• loading of the blocks onto transportation means .

The water-cut techniques which can be used are those normally used for cutting ornamental stones (marble, gran- ite, etc..) and are substantially of two types:

• with diamond wire;

• with circular water saws.

The diamond wire technique allows long horizontal surface cuts effected with a machine capable of allowing a steel wire with suitably fixed synthetic diamonds to run at a high speed, with water cooling.

The circular saw technique uses a recently patented technique (IT-1180403) which adopts a circular saw with Teflon support, on which synthetic diamonds are fixed. The polyethylene sheets which wrap the blocks preferably have a thickness ranging from 0.23 to 0.5 μ, more preferably from 0.23 to 0.30 μ, whereas the number of wrappings preferably ranges from 4 to 10.

An embodiment of the present invention is now provided with the help of the enclosed figure which illustrates the cutting of sulphur blocks with water saws with no powder emission.

A horizontal cut is first effected with a water saw with diamond wire normally used in marble and granite quar- ries.

The sulphur blocks are subsequently cut with a water saw having diamond belt described in IT-1180403 mentioned above .