The formation of sodium disulfite by the heterogeneous reaction of solid active sodium sulfite with gaseous sulfur dioxide in the presence of water vapour was investigated over the temperature range of 293 to 393 K at SO2. H2O and O2 partial pressures of 1.2-7.4, 1.2-6.4 and 0-11.3 kPa, respectively. The effect of the reaction time was also examined. Kinetic measurements were supplemented with the determination of the equilibrium dissociation pressure of SO2 in contact with sodium sulfite at 373.15 K. The major aim of the work was to establish the optimum conditions for attaining the maximum degree of conversion of the solid reactant to sodium disulfite. The conditions for the formation of virtually pure sodium disulfite were found.
