The Essential Chemical Industry - online search Nitric acid Nive acid is manfactured fam ammonia and is a Key chemical inthe manufacture of ferizers (matrl-and- HNO, explcaonserizers itn Uses of nitric aci By far the principal use of nie aid (80%) is inthe manufacture of fertizers. Of ts 96% fs used to make ammonium nivate(maleria-and- appicationsieritzersntmi#nutionts) ang caleium ammonium nivale (inatral-and-applcationsferizers.Mimiénutfonts) A roltvely smal amount of ammonium nirate is used to make explosives, ‘Some nic acid fs used to make intermediates inte polymer industry, notably in the manufacture of hexanedioic acid (adipic acid) to make polyamides (polymersipalyamides him and TDI (luene disacyanate or methylbenzene disacyanate) and dinkrobenzene two ofa range of reagents used to make polyuretranes (Ipalymersipolyurethane him). Nirobenzene is used to make anilne which @ key reagent fr making «yes (materls-and-appicatonsieolorants html, / vee / “= So ——— Figure 1 Uses of lie el Annual production of nitric acid Ws mtn ees? Manufacture of nitric acid Nic acid procucton involves two stages: 28) oxdaton of ammonia b) absorption ofthe resuling trogen oxides: (@) Oxidation of ammonia This pat of he process involves the oxidation of ammonia to nitogen monoxide (nic oxide}ANH(Q) + 501g) <= 4NO{g) + BHO) AH® = 900 Kd mot “The concitions favouring the formation of the products at suitable reaction rates forthe reaction are + high pressure + acatabst + as high a temperature as is consistent with practicable reaction rates, catalyst ffcency and operating pressure Most plants operate wih: + moderate pressures (10-13 acm) + oxygen (ae) + an ally of ptinum and rhodium as catalyst + temperatures at co 1200K “The main advantage ofthe high pressure is that tsubstantally reduces the size of equipment an piping required, and hence leads toa reduced capil cost Whore possible, te ammonia (chemicalsfammoniahimlammonia is made on the same silo, Iisflored to remove any impurtos and then ‘maxed wih fled compressed arto give @ miture contaiing approximately 10% ammonia and 90% ar. The exact proportion of excess ar H,0(a) + NO(g) 2Hs(@) + 2NO(a) —> 2H,0(0) + Nea) “The temperature at which the reaction is most effecive depends on the fuel. or hydrogen, tis ca 450K. For methane, tis much higher, c@ 750 kK “The acid from the absorption towers contains iypicaly 66-60% nic acd by mass butcan be manulactured up o ca 68% by mass. Some 99% acid is required for the manufacture of, for example, organic nio-compounds forthe explosives and dye industies. Nic acid and wator form an azeottopic mature, with a maximum beling point of 395 K, containing ca 68% nitric acd by mass; thus the concentrated acid cannot be obtained by dstilation of he aqueous soliton. Concentrated sullurc acid is used to absorb the water contont and then on stilton of tis mature, concentrated nitic acd i oblainad. Pure nic acid bois at 359. Date last amended: th December 2016 fweoeg putnpeteeaiet ushitgflant acini haiti‘Aninvitation We invite you to wie tous fyou have any specific comments about this ste, for example ‘errors that you have found, suggestions for new topics or for adding tthe existing uns, ‘suggestions for Inks to other sts and addtions or alteatves to our examples. Please send these comments to: eci@essentalchemicalindusty.org(maito:eci@essentilchemicalindusty org) ‘This we site is produced by the Centre for Industry Education Collaboration, non-profit exganization and an integral part ofthe Department of (Chemistry, Univers of York, UK. Copyright © 2018 University af York Centre for Industry Education Collaboration, York, UK. Al Rights Reserve,