The contact process is the current method of producing sulphuric acid in the high concentrations needed for industrial processes. Platinum was formerly employed as a catalyst for the reaction, but as it is susceptible to poisoning by arsenic impurities in the sulphur feedstock, vanadium(V) oxide (V2O5) is now preferred.
This process was patented in 1831 by the British vinegar merchant Peregrine Phillips. In addition to being a far more economical process for producing concentrated sulphuric acid than the previous lead chamber process, the contact process also produces sulphur trioxide and oleum.
Read more about Contact Process: Process, Purification Unit, DCDA
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