SULPHURIC ACID

Sulfuric acid is one of the most important compounds made by the chemical industry. It is used to make, literally, H2SO4, hundreds of compounds needed by almost every industry.

Sulphuric acid forms the basis of so many of the most important heavy chemical used by the industries that it may well be regarded as the foundation on which the main structure of the heavy chemical industries . It is hard to find any branch of economy in which either sulphuric acid or products made from it are not used . It is universally acknowledged that the extent of manufactures of H2SO4 is a sure index of the state of the industrial life of a country. It would be rather appropriate to say that country’s economy depends upon the consumption of the sulphuric acid.

There is hardly any important industry which is not directly or indirectly dependent to some extent on sulphuric acid, one of its derivatives or it salts. The versatile use of sulphuric acid has cripped in to almost all industrial fields and have gained enough popularity after second world war. The amount consumption and production of sulphuric acid in the country is proportional to the economic growth of the country. This industry takes the target there of industrial market. It is obvious that although fertilizer and chemical take up the targets proportion of the acid produced and reset to this stands Rayon and steel industry.

The sulphuric acid is the only acid which has thousands of uses in form of acid, salts and derivatives interestingly enough the uses of sulphuric acid starts with english alphabets ‘a’ and ends at ‘z’ . The ‘A’ alphabet indicates the use as an acid, ‘B’ indicates use is in battery, ‘C’ in chemical industry ‘D’ drugs , ‘E’ as explosives, ‘F’ forfeiting, ‘G’ galvanizing, ‘H’ as herbicides, I as insecticides, J as joint cleaning , and so on (I as leather industry, M as metallurgical industry O as Oil refining etc.,)

The conception of sulphuric acid is lacking behind in cooperation to western world. Inspite of versatile use and application the exact demand of sulphuric acid is not properly surfaced. If the country has to raise the economic condition then this industry should be manifold.

Sulphuric acid a strong acid, is an oily, viscous water white non volatile liquid. It absorbs water from the atmosphere. It is made in large volume by the chemical industry. The acid has a corrosive action on the skin, a drop of it on the skin causes a severe burn. The acid is used as a solvent, a dehydrating agent, a reagent in chemical reactions or processes as catalyst, an absorbent etc. The concentrated acid is usually stored in steel tanks. The dilute acid may be stored in lead lined or plastic tanks. It is used in very dilute concentrations and as strong fuming acid. It is often recovered and refused. After use in some phases of the explosives, petroleum and dye industries, it is often recovered in a form unsuitable for re-use in that industry but suitable for use in another industry. It is a versatile, useful acid has been called the work horse of chemical industry.