Nitric Acid’s Brilliance: Unveiling the Manufacturing Magic and Endless Applications!

Thank you for joining us in the next part of our blog. Now, we will try to figure out some interesting facts about Nitric Acid. Although it might be a new name to you, this chemical is widely used in different spheres of your life. Nitric Acid is an organic compound that is a colorless and sweet-smelling liquid and is not only interesting from a chemical perspective but also finds an application in various industries.

Nitric Acid is a natural petrochemical that is obtained from natural gas, crude oil, or coal and is used as a basic raw material for the manufacture of various other chemicals. Its uses are endless as it is used in the production of plastics, rubbers, detergents, medicines, and many other products. However, this is not all – Nitric Acid is also useful in other aspects besides chemical synthesis.

Here we will look at how Nitric Acid was discovered, its applications in different industries and how it is an essential solvent in both chemical and pharmaceutical industries. So, let’s fasten our seat belts and begin our quest to demystify Nitric Acid and discover its magic!

Introduction

Nitric Acid, initially colorless, may adopt a yellowish hue over time or if it contains nitrogen oxides, highlighting its dynamic nature. Despite its seemingly innocuous appearance, it is vital to acknowledge its highly corrosive and toxic properties, attributes that underpin its extensive industrial applications. One of the key features of Nitric Acid is its remarkable solubility in water across all proportions, coupled with its potent oxidizing capabilities. This unique combination renders it indispensable in various chemical processes, where its ability to facilitate oxidation reactions is paramount.

Primarily, Nitric Acid serves as the principal reactant in the production of fertilizers, explosives, and an array of organic substances. Its pivotal role in these processes underscores its significance in driving agricultural productivity and supporting diverse industrial needs. Beyond its foundational role in fertilizer and explosive production, Nitric Acid assumes additional functions in industry. It serves as a versatile tool for acid etching and cleaning certain metals, where its corrosive properties enable precise surface treatment. Moreover, it acts as a crucial reactant in specific chemical synthesis reactions, contributing to the synthesis of various compounds essential in pharmaceuticals, materials science, and other sectors.

Manufacturing Process

Nitric Acid is a key ingredient in many industries like fertilizers, explosives, dyes, and plastics. It's usually manufactured in 68% concentration. Stronger Nitric Acid comes in fuming varieties: red fuming (68-95% concentration) used in rocket fuel, and white fuming (above 95%) for etching.  The Ostwald process makes Nitric Acid from ammonia, water, and air.

This process involves three main steps:

1. Turning Ammonia into nitrogen monoxide with a catalyst.
2. Converting nitrogen monoxide to nitrogen oxides through oxidation.
3. Dissolving the nitrogen oxides in water to create Nitric Acid.

• The process starts by transforming liquid nitrogen into a gas. This gaseous nitrogen then travels through a filter to eliminate any unwanted particles. Meanwhile, air goes through compression, raising its temperature. Similar to the nitrogen, the heated compressed air gets filtered for impurities. Finally, the purified air and ammonia are combined in a specialized mixing equipment.

• The mixed gas is directed to the converter, which is the core of the process where the initial chemical reactions take place. This equipment contains catalyst gauzes made of platinum or platinum-rhodium, with rhodium constituting 10% when used. In the converter, ammonia is catalytically oxidized in the presence of oxygen, primarily producing nitrogen monoxide. This reaction is maintained at a temperature of 920°C and a pressure of 1-1.4 atm, with water and nitrogen as by-products. The converter's output still contains enough oxygen for subsequent chemical reactions.

• The gases exiting the converter are first cooled in a cooler before undergoing a second reaction, where nitrogen monoxide is further oxidized to nitrogen oxides, mainly nitrogen dioxide and some dinitrogen tetroxide. These gases then pass through a condenser, producing a small amount of Nitric Acid. The main production of Nitric Acid occurs in the absorption tower, where the condensed acid is combined with the bulk being produced.

• In the absorption tower, the nitrogen oxides are continuously fed with air to further convert nitrogen monoxide to nitrogen oxides. A steady supply of water is also maintained to ensure the output Nitric Acid concentration is 60%. Increasing the pressure to 10 atm improves the absorption tower's efficiency. Slightly decreasing the temperature, for example by 2°C, increases the Nitric Acid concentration by 5%, resulting in a 65% concentration of Nitric Acid from the absorption tower.

Applications of Nitric Acid

• Chemical

Nitric Acid is a crucial player in many industrial processes. In agriculture, it's the backbone of fertilizer production via ammonium nitrate.  Beyond farms, it contributes to the creation of everyday items like plastics and dyes. But Nitric Acid has a more explosive side: it's a necessary component in the manufacturing of powerful compounds like TNT and nitroglycerin, highlighting its diverse and sometimes surprising applications.

• Fertilizer

Nitric Acid's biggest role is in fertilizers. It teams up with ammonia to create ammonium nitrate, a key fertilizer that provides plants with essential nitrogen for growth. But Nitric Acid isn't a one-trick pony. It also joins forces with calcium to create calcium nitrate, another fertilizer that benefits crops, particularly in areas with calcium-deficient soil.

• Metallurgy

Nitric Acid possesses cleaning and etching attributes as well. Acting as a potent oxidizing agent, it has the capability to transfer its oxygen molecules to various compounds, including metals, inducing predictable oxidation reactions. This action results in the removal of ions from the metal's surface, leading to the formation of pits within the material. Furthermore, this oxidizing characteristic endows Nitric Acid with formidable solvent capabilities. It can effectively dissolve surface substances on materials, aiding in the elimination of contaminants and ensuring their safety.

• Pharmaceuticals

Nitric Acid's oxidizing power makes it a valuable tool in pharmaceutical production. It plays a key role in creating intermediate compounds, the building blocks for final drugs. This "nitration reaction" adds a nitro group (-NO2) to organic molecules, crucial for many medications. Beyond creating drugs, Nitric Acid helps prepare solutions and test existing pharmaceuticals. Labs use it to measure oxidation-reduction (redox) potential, pH levels, and even detect unwanted non-organic materials, ensuring drug safety and efficacy.

Market Outlook

Nitric Acid (HNO3) is a crucial player in several industries. In agriculture, it's the backbone of fertilizer production, with applications in creating essential crop nutrients like ammonium nitrate, potassium nitrate, calcium ammonium nitrate, and nitro phosphate. This sector is a major consumer of HNO3, driven by the rising global population and its demand for increased food production. Additionally, growing consumer spending on organic and high-quality food is pushing the use of bio-based fertilizers, further expanding the HNO3 market. Beyond agriculture, HNO3 acts as an intermediary in the production of toluene di-isocyanate (TDI), a key component in polyurethane foams, wood and floor coatings, and insulating materials. The rise in construction activity fuels the demand for these products. Similarly, changing consumer lifestyles, growing rehabilitation projects, and new government infrastructure initiatives all contribute to the overall growth of the HNO3 market.

Nitric Acid Major Global Manufacturers

Significant manufacturers in the Global Nitric Acid market are Yara International ASA, Grupa Azoty S.A, BASF SE, TKG Huchems, Azot(PJSC), Deepak Fertilizers and Petrochemicals Corporation  Limited, Navoiyazot , OCI Nitrogen B.V, Sasol Nitro, Fertiberia, LSB Industries (EI Dorado ), Abu Qir Fertilizer Egypt Co., Nutrien Ltd, Egyptian Chemical Industries (KIMA), CF Industries Holding Inc, Orica Australia Pty. Ltd., and Others.

Conclusion:

Conclusively, Nitric Acid is an all-purpose chemical that is essential in various industries across the globe. Its importance is perhaps most felt in the agriculture industry, where it is used as one of the main raw materials in the manufacture of fertilizers, particularly ammonium nitrate. This crucial role is essential in feeding the world’s population, supporting the cultivation of crops on a large scale. Apart from agriculture, Nitric Acid has other uses such as in the preparation of explosives which are very important in construction and mining. In addition, Nitric Acid is relevant in the field of material science where it is used in the manufacturing of plastics, especially nylon and other polymer products. This contribution supports the manufacturing process within the industry, which in turn helps in the making of several items that are commonly used by people. In the same way, Nitric Acid is also widely used in the field of pharmaceuticals, where it is used in the production of drugs and pharmaceutical intermediates, which are vital in the improvement of health care.