A PROCESS FOR INCREASING THE CONCENTRATION OF SULFURIC ACID AND EQUIPMENT FOR USE IN THE PROCESS

A sulfuric acid recirculation loop and a standalone sulfuric acid concentrator including: a concentrator column, an air lift pump having a liquid inlet fed with concentrated sulfuric acid from the outlet of a sulfuric acid reservoir downstream the concentrator column, a gas inlet fed with a carrier fluid having a lower density than the concentrated sulfuric acid, and an outlet, wherein the sulfuric acid reservoir is located below the concentrator column and above the carrier fluid inlet of the air lift pump, a downcomer pipe leading down from the sulfuric acid reservoir to the liquid inlet of the air lift pump, and a riser pipe leading up from the carrier fluid inlet on the air lift pump to an inlet pipe for the concentrator column, the inlet pipe being configured for allowing a liquid flow from the inlet to the outlet.