What Are the Uses of Sulfuric Acid in Industry?

Sulfuric acid is widely used in various industrial sectors, including chemical fertilizer industry, metallurgical industry, petroleum industry, machinery industry, pharmaceutical industry, detergent production, military industry, atomic energy industry and aerospace industry. It is also used in the production of dyes, pesticides, chemical fibers, plastics, coatings, and various basic organic and inorganic chemical products. In the early sulfuric acid industries, the nitrification method was used, and the production intensity of the equipment was low, and the product concentration was only 60 to 76%. Since the 20th century, the nitrification method has gradually been replaced by the contact method. Raw materials for producing sulfuric acid include sulfur, pyrite, non-ferrous metal smelting flue gas, gypsum, hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, and waste sulfuric acid. Sulfur, pyrite and smelting flue gas are the three main raw materials.

Sulfuric acid industry

(Industrial type)

Sulfuric acid is widely used in various industrial sectors, including chemical fertilizer industry, metallurgical industry, petroleum industry, machinery industry, pharmaceutical industry, detergent production, military industry, atomic energy industry and aerospace industry. It is also used in the production of dyes, pesticides, chemical fibers, plastics, coatings, and various basic organic and inorganic chemical products. In the early sulfuric acid industries, the nitrification method was used, and the production intensity of the equipment was low, and the product concentration was only 60 to 76%. Since the 20th century, the nitrification method has gradually been replaced by the contact method. Raw materials for producing sulfuric acid include sulfur, pyrite, non-ferrous metal smelting flue gas, gypsum, hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, and waste sulfuric acid. Sulfur, pyrite and smelting flue gas are the three main raw materials.

Chinese name

Sulfuric acid industry

Category

Inorganic chemical industry

main products

Concentrated sulfuric acid, dilute sulfuric acid, fuming sulfuric acid, liquid sulfur trioxide, battery sulfuric acid, etc.

Sulfuric acid industry

Basic

There are concentrated sulfuric acid, dilute sulfuric acid, fuming sulfuric acid, liquid sulfur trioxide, battery sulfuric acid, etc. It also produces high-concentration fuming sulfuric acid, liquid sulfur dioxide, ammonium sulfite and other products.

1. Using its acidity, it can produce phosphate fertilizer and nitrogen fertilizer; it can remove rust; it can produce sulfate with greater practical value.

2. Utilizing the water absorption of concentrated sulfuric acid, concentrated sulfuric acid is commonly used as a water absorbent and desiccant in the laboratory. Concentrated sulfuric acid can dry neutral and acidic gases, such as H2, O2, N2, CO2, SO2, Cl2, HCl, etc., but it cannot dry alkaline gases (NH3) and those with reducing properties (H2S, HBr, HI) at room temperature. gas.

3 Utilizing the dehydration property of concentrated sulfuric acid, concentrated sulfuric acid is often used as a dehydrating agent for refining petroleum and a dehydrating agent for organic reactions.

4 The high boiling point of concentrated sulfuric acid is difficult to be volatile, and it is often used to prepare various volatile acids.

The laboratory also often uses concentrated hydrochloric acid and concentrated sulfuric acid to make HCl gas quickly and easily. Because concentrated sulfuric acid has water absorption, it can absorb water in concentrated hydrochloric acid, and can release a lot of heat, accelerate the volatilization of HCl and dry HCl gas.

Concentrated sulfuric acid dilution: Concentrated sulfuric acid dissolves in water and exotherms violently, and its density is greater than water. Therefore, when diluting, add acid into the water, and keep stirring to dissipate heat.

Concentrated sulfuric acid accidentally splashed onto the skin. Do not immediately rinse with water. Wipe dry with a dry cloth, then wash with plenty of water, and then apply a 3% to 5% sodium bicarbonate solution.

method one:

Raw materials for producing sulfuric acid include sulfur, pyrite, non-ferrous metal smelting flue gas, gypsum, hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, and waste sulfuric acid. Sulfur, pyrite and smelting flue gas are the three main raw materials.

1. Preparation of sulfur dioxide (boiling furnace)

Combustion of sulfur or high-temperature treatment of pyrite to produce sulfur dioxide S + O2 = ignite = SO2

4FeS2 + 11O2 = high temperature = 8SO2 + 2Fe2O3

2. Contact oxidation to sulfur trioxide (contact chamber)

2SO2 + O2 = Vanadium pentoxide catalyzed and heated = 2SO3 (reversible reaction)

3. Absorbed with 98.3% sulfuric acid

SO3 + H2SO4 = H2S2O7 (pyrosulfuric acid)

4. add water

H2S2O7 + H2O = 2H2SO4

5. Purification

Industrial concentrated sulfuric acid can be distilled to obtain commercial sulfuric acid with a concentration of 95% -98%.

After the dihydrate method of phosphoric acid reaction, phosphogypsum is used for industrial recycling and sulfuric acid is produced by the dihydrate method.

Method Two:

1. Preparation of sulfur dioxide (boiling furnace)

Combustion of sulfur or high-temperature treatment of pyrite to produce sulfur dioxide S + O2 = ignite = SO2

4FeS2 + 11O2 = high temperature = 8SO2 + 2Fe2O3

2. Dissolve sulfur dioxide in water to change into sulfurous acid.

3. Oxidation of sulfurous acid gives sulfuric acid.