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COMMODITY DESCRIPTION
2.1. Definition
2.1.1. Dilution
Dilution is the process of decreasing the concentration of a solute in solution, usually simply by
mixing with more solvent. To dilute a solution means to add more solvent without the addition of
more solute. The resulting solution is thoroughly mixed so as to ensure that all parts of the
solution are identical. In other words, "Dilutions are expressed as the ratio of the quantity of a
desired solute (serum, urine, chemical solution, etc.) contained in a solvent (diluent).
Concentrated hydrochloric acid (HCl) is a hazardous chemical and must be handled with care. It
is a strong inorganic acid which is highly corrosive, poisonous, hazardous and toxic. It is a
colourless or slightly yellow liquid with a strong pungent odour and produces fumes at high
concentrations. Concentrated hydrochloric acid is normally purchased from a supplier as either
32% or 36%.The dilution of hydrochloric acid is an exothermic (heat producing) reaction.
2.1.3. Caustic soda
Caustic soda is a strong, colorless alkali manufactured through the electrolysis of sodium
chloride (salt brine). Caustic soda or sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is chemically reactive with a
wide variety of organic and inorganic chemicals. In all its forms, including solution form, caustic
soda is highly corrosive and can cause serious burns to the eyes and skin.
Sodium chlorite is made by the partial reduction of sodium chlorate to chlorine dioxide and the
chlorine dioxide's subsequent conversion to sodium chlorite in an alkaline solution in the
presence of hydrogen peroxide.
Hydrochloric acid is an important and widely used chemical. The largest end uses for
hydrochloric acid are steel pickling, oil well acidizing, food manufacturing, producing calcium
chloride, and ore processing.
Steel pickling
Hydrochloric acid is used in pickling operations for carbon, alloy and stainless steels. Steel
pickling is the process by which iron oxides and scale are removed from the surface of steel by
converting the oxides to soluble compounds. Pickling is required for steel products that undergo
further processing such as wire production, coating of sheet and strip, and tin mill products.
Hydrochloric acid is used primarily for continuous pickling operations in which hot-rolled strip
steel is passed through a countercurrent flow of acid solution. In addition to steel pickling,
hydrochloric acid is used in aluminum etching, metal prefixing for galvanizing and soldering,
and metal cleaning.
Hydrochloric acid is used both to remove rust, scale and undesirable carbonate deposits in oil
wells to encourage the flow of crude oil or gas to the well. This use is called "stimulation."
Acidizing is generally done in carbonate or limestone formations by stimulation. An acid
solution is injected into the formation, which dissolves a portion of the rock and creates a large
pore structure in the formation, increasing its effective permeability and the flow of oil.
Food
The food industry uses hydrochloric acid in the processing of a variety of products. A major use
of hydrochloric acid by the food industry is for the production of corn syrups such as high-
fructose corn syrup (HFCS).
Much of the hydrochloric acid consumed in the HFCS industry is used to regenerate the ion
exchange resins that are employed to remove impurities. Hydrochloric acid can also be used to
acid-modify cornstarch and to adjust the pH of intermediates, final product and wastewater. The
largest use of HFCS is in the production of soft drinks, which accounts for 70-75% of demand.
Hydrochloric acid is also used in other food processing applications, including the production of
hydrolyzed vegetable protein and soy sauce. It is used in acidulating crushed bones for the
manufacture of gelatin and as an acidifier for products such as sauces, vegetable juices and
canned goods.
Hydrochloric acid is also consumed in the production of artificial sweeteners and in the
production of lysine, choline chloride (both used primarily as animal feed additives) and citric
acid.
Neutralizing hydrochloric acid with limestone (CaCO3) produces calcium chloride. The largest
use for calcium chloride is highway deicing with production dependent on weather conditions.
Other uses include dust control, industrial processing, oil recovery, concrete treatment and tire
ballasting. Calcium chloride is also used in oil recovery products such as drilling muds and work
over/completion fluids.
Ore Processing
Hydrochloric acid is consumed in many mining operations for ore treatment, extraction,
separation, purification and water treatment. Significant quantities are used in the recovery of
molybdenum and gold. Hydrochloric acid is used to convert high-grade scheelite concentrate
(CaWO4) and crude sodium tungstate to tungstic acid, which in turn, can be used to produce
tungsten metal and chemicals. Hydrochloric acid is also used in uranium and zirconium
processing, solution mining of borate ores, as a pH regulator in the froth flotation of potash ores,
and in rare earth extraction from bastnasite.
Other
Hydrochloric acid is also used in many other production processes for organic chemicals. It can
be used in the production of p-phenylenediamine, polycarbonate resins, bisphenol A, polyvinyl
chloride resins,and ethanol (from ethylene).
Numerous other uses of hydrochloric acid include the manufacture of dyes and pigments; the
removal of sludge and scale from industrial equipment; the deliming, tanning and dyeing of
hides by the leather industry; manufacture of permanent wave lotion; the carbonizing of wool;
use as a bleaching and dyeing assistant in the textile industry; and the purification of sand and
clay.
2.2.3. Use of Sodium chlorite
Hydrogen Sulfide Odor Control
In the ionic form, sodium chlorite is almost exclusively reactive to hydrogen sulfide, and does
not react with ammonia or form other chlorinated compounds.
Copper Cyanide, which is formed in the recovery process for copper metal, is the only cyanide
that catalyzes sodium chlorite making it an effective option.
Chlorine dioxide removes dyestuffs from textiles with a minimum of fiber degradation.
However, its effectiveness depends upon the dyestuff and the type of fabric. This method also
provides a good bottom for redying.
Chlorine dioxide is effective in the bleaching of fats and oils. The process is simple and low cost
and since it eliminates the need for a filter medium, it produces a higher yield than other
methods. (About 30% of the weight of the filter residue, which is generally discarded, is tallow.)
Problems such as storage and handling of the filter medium and disposal of filter residues are
eliminated as well
Chlorine dioxide has long been used to remove tastes and odors in potable water. It is also used
in the disinfection of water, particularly where trihalomethanes are of concern. Chlorine dioxide
also oxidizes soluble manganese and iron compounds, eliminating a major cause of stained sinks
and fixtures.
Bacterial Control in Oil Wells and Petroleum Systems
A patented use for chlorine dioxide is to treat water that is or will be contaminated with
petroleum oil. Many such mixtures contain sulfitereducing bacteria that form undesirable sulfide
compounds.Chlorine dioxide oxidizes these sulfides to sulfates, while preventing or substantially
retarding the formation of colloidal sulfur.
Some of the major operational problems in paper and paperboard production are caused by
proliferation of microbiological organisms in white water and stock systems. As an oxidizing
biocide, chlorine dioxide, can control microbiological growths, which cause paper malodors and
discoloration, deterioration of felts, equipment corrosion, fouling of pipes and
showers, and paper quality problems such as spots, specks and holes.
Food Processing.
Treatment of Waste
Chlorine dioxide is used to disinfect sewage and plant wastes. It destroys phenolics, simple
cyanides and sulfides by oxidation.
2.3. Characteristics
Caustic soda is the most typical of the strong alkalis. Although there is no danger of it exploding
or igniting, it reacts with various acids, such as hydrochloric acid, and is neutralized and
generates considerable exothermic heat of neutralization.
・It corrodes metals, such as aluminum, tin, and zinc. During this process, it
generates hydrogen, which has the potential to behave as an explosive gas.
・It is highly hygroscopic, and absorbs the moisture, carbon dioxide, or sulfur dioxide in the air.
It is also highly deliquescent and absorbs moisture to form an aqueous solution.
・When liquid caustic soda is diluted; it generates a considerable amount of heat of dilution.
Since this rapidly generates strong heat and the resulting solution may spatter if the water is
carelessly poured into it, care must be taken.
・Caustic soda easily decomposes animal fibers. Although plant fibers are also decomposed,
they have a higher resistance than animal fibers. Although materials resistant to corrosion by
caustic soda include stainless steel, steel-epoxy resins, and fiber-reinforced plastics, steel and
rubber-lined steel are the most frequently used.
Ethiopia has its own quality standard issued by Ethiopian Quality Standard Agency as ES
654:2001, ES 968 :2004,and ES 883:2002 for Sodium hydroxide, Hydrochloric acid, and Sodium
hypochlorites family with Sodium chlorite respectively. And these specifications will be attached
in hard copy at the end of the final commodity study.