A narrow hole of about 30cm in diameter is drilled down into the Sulphur bed. A Sulphur pump made up of three concentric pipes are pushed down into the Sulphur bed. Super-heated steam of about 170°C is passed down the outer pipe to melt the sulphur. Hot compressed air is blown down the inner most pipe to force the molten sulphur and water mixture up through the middle pipe. The molten sulphur is then collected in large tanks, where it cools and solidifies and can be separated from water. The sulphur is about 99.5% pure and be used directly.

Physical Properties

• It is a yellow solid at room temperature.
• The melting point of sulphur is 115°C and the boiling point is 444°C.

Sulphur exists in two crystalline allotropes, that is;

• Rhombic sulphur: is stable at room temperature below 96°C and is denser than monoclinic sulphur.
• Monoclinic sulphur: It is stable above 96°C. This 96°C is the transmission temperature.

Chemical Properties

• Sulphur burns in air with a blue flame producing chocking poisonous flames of sulphur dioxide.

S(s)+O2 (g)→SO2 (g)

• Sulphur combines directly with metals to produce sulphide.

Fe(s)+S(s)→FeS(s)