Concentrated sulfuric acid in industrial production

The achievements of the chemical industry of the modern world today allow the creation of new substances and materials, using for this purpose a variety of chemical compounds. One example is concentrated sulfuric acid, which is very common in the chemical industry.

Sulfuric acid, having the formula H2SO4, is a liquid without the color of Maslenica consistency, which when it reaches 10.4 ° C turns into a solid crystalline mass. Concentrated sulfuric acid contains 96.4% of SO4, and its density is very high and reaches 1.87 g / cm, as a result of which 1 liter of undiluted sulfuric acid weighs approximately 2 kg. It is noteworthy that if the acid is dissolved in water, then its temperature rises considerably, since a large amount of hydrates is formed in the reaction. This remarkable property is widely used to isolate various substances as a result of increasing the temperature of not only water but also other liquids.

Concentrated sulfuric acid is also used for dehumidifying gases, as it has the ability to absorb vapors of various liquids. The same property explains the charring of some organic substances, especially carbohydrates, when it comes into contact with this acid. The fact is that carbohydrates contain hydrogen and oxygen in the same ratio as H2SO4, so when these substances come into contact, sulfuric acid takes water from carbohydrates, and carbon is released in the form of coal dust.

In the production of garden fertilizers, concentrated sulfuric acid, whose chemical properties allow it to be used as a good oxidizing agent, is also used to displace other volatile acids from salts. As a result, it is possible to produce such fertilizers as superphosphate, ammonium sulfate and others. Owing to its oxidizing properties, it is used for the oxidation of all metals standing in the conjugation line up to and including silver, resulting in the formation of two series of salts, sulfates (of the middle type) and hydrogen sulphates (acid type), with ether evolution.

Sulfuric acid is an extremely corrosive liquid, which also has dangerous vapors. The maximum permissible concentration of H2SO4 vapor is 1 mg / m3, so that all workers dealing with sulfuric acid are given overalls and personal protective equipment. Concentrated sulfuric acid, whose properties are extremely dangerous for a person without protection, is used in the following fields of activity:

- industrial organic synthesis;

- manufacture of medicinal products;

- cleaning of petroleum products;

- leather and metalworking industry;

- manufacture of dyes, plastics, synthetic detergents and so on.

Sulfuric acid is produced by two industrial methods - using solid contacts (catalysts), as well as using nitrogen oxides (nitrous method). As a raw material, sulfur most often appears, but for some types of sulfuric acid, metal sulphides can be used. The industry produces concentrated sulfuric acid of the following types: technical, vitriol, pure (battery), oleum (anhydride solution) and tower.

In conclusion, it should be stressed once again that sulfuric acid belongs to caustic toxic substances of the 2nd danger class. When the vapors of the acid get into the respiratory organs, burns of the upper respiratory tract are formed, accompanied by a strong cough, which can develop into bronchitis, tracheitis and laryngitis. That's why when working with sulfuric acid, much attention is paid to the high degree of protection of workers against the harmful effects of the liquid and etheric constituents of this substance.