INDUSTRIAL

INORGANIC
CHEMISTRY

2020-CH-259
 MANUFACTURING OF
SULPHURIC ACID IN INDUSTRY
SULPHURIC ACID:
“It is also known as oil of vitriol , mineral acid composed of elements
like sulfur, hydrogen and oxygen with the molecular formula H2SO4.”
MORE ABOUT SULPHURIC ACID:

FORMULA H2SO4

MOLAR MASS 98.08g/ mol

IUPIC ID Sulfuric Acid

DENSITY 1.83g/ cm^3

BOILING POINT 338 C

MELTING POINT 10 C
PRODUCTION OF SULPURIC ACID IN
INDUSTRY:
Process of sulfuric acid production:

Sulfuric acid is prepared industrially by the reaction of water with Sulphur

trioxide which in turn is made up of chemical combination of sulfur dioxide
and oxygen either by contact process or the chamber process.
 CONTACT PROCESS:

It is a modern method used by industries for manufacturing

concentrated sulfuric acid. During this process, sulfur dioxide
and oxygen are passed over a hot catalyst (V2O5). They unite to
form sulfur trioxide which combines with water to produce
sulphuric acid.
PROCESS EQUATION:
•2SO2(g) + O2(g) ⇌ 2SO3(g) 
• SO3(g) + H2O(l) → H2SO4(l)
Process diagram:
STEP BY STEP MANUFACTURING OF
SULFURIC ACID BY CONTACT
PROCESS:
There are following steps by which sulphuric acid is prepared in
contact process:
Dusting Tower
Scrubbing Tower
Arsenic Purifier
Contact Tower or oxidation chamber
Absorption Tower
Dilution Tank
USES OF SULFURIC ACID:
 AT HOME:
It is a very dangerous chemical and should
be handled carefully. Because of the
hazards associated with it, its uses at
home are very few. It is used in drain
cleaners with reactive property and hence
makes home maintenance easy
 IN INDUSTRIES:
It is used in different industries such as –
wastewater processing, production of
cleaning agents, processing of minerals,
producing explosives, detergents and paper
industry for the manufacture of aluminum
sulfate.
IN PRODUCTION OF DRUGS:

• Used to damage the cancerous cell DNA

by the manufacture of chemotherapy
drugs. It is used in ointments to treat
various skin infections. It is the basic
ingredient of topical ointment named
Debacterol in the treatment of canker
sores.
 ON SKIN:
• It is used in skin ointments to treat skin
infections like canker sores. Concentrated
sulphuric acid is harmful for skin. It causes
severe skin burn and injury.