Nitric applications

Equip a 500 ml. three necked flask with a reflux condenser, a mercury-sealed mechanical stirrer and separator funnel, and support it on a water bath. Attach an absorption device (Fig. II, 8, 1, c) to the top of the condenser (1). Place 134 g. (152 ml.) of A.R, benzene and 127 g. of iodine in the flask, and heat the water bath to about 50° add 92 ml. of fuming nitric acid, sp. gr. 1-50, slowly from the separatory funnel during 30 minutes. Oxides of nitrogen are evolved in quantity. The temperature rises slowly without the application of heat until the mixture boils gently. When all the nitric acid has been introduced, reflux the mixture gently for 15 minutes. If iodine is still present, add more nitric acid to the warm solution until the purple colour (due to iodine) changes to brownish-red. 

Anodic protection against acids has been used in a number of processes in the chemical industry, as well as during storage and transport. It is also successful in geometrically complicated containers and tubings [12], Carbon steel can be protected from nitric and sulfuric acids. In the latter case, temperature and concentration set application limits [17]. At temperatures of up to 120°C, efficient protection can only be achieved with concentrations over 90% [ 18]. At concentrations between 67 and 90%, anodic protection can be used at up to 140°C with CrNi steels [19]. 

Since the first application of turbocompressors (Figure 4-1) in large-scale production of nitric acid as a raw material for fertilizers, explosives, plastics, and a variety of other chemical products, the requirements on processes as well as on rotating equipment have become increasingly demanding. Environmental as well as economic considerations have heavily influenced the development of such plants. 

The principal applications of these plastics arose from their very good chemical resistance, as they are resistant to mineral acids, strong alkalis and most common solvents. They were, however, not recommended for use in conjunction with oxidising acids such as fuming nitric acid, fuming sulphuric acid or chlorosulphonic acid, with fluorine or with some chlorinated solvents, particularly at elevated temperatures. 

Flue gas treatment (FGT) is more effective in reducing NO, emissions than are combustion controls, although at higher cost. FGT is also useful where combustion controls are not applicable. Pollution prevention measures, such as using a high-pressure process in nitric acid plants, is more cost-effective in controlling NO, emissions. FGT technologies have been primarily developed and are most widely used in Japan. The techniques can be classified as selective catalytic reduction, selective noncatalytic reduction, and adsorption. 

The advantages of thermal incineration are that it is simple in concept, has a wide application, and results in almost complete destruction of pollutants with no liquid or solid residue. Thermal incineration provides an opportunity for heat recovery and has low maintenance requirements and low capital cost. Thermal incineration units for small or moderate exhaust streams are generally compact and light. Such units can be installed on a roof when the plant area is limited. = The main disadvantage is the auxiliary fuel cost, which is partly offset with an efficient heat-recovery system. The formation of nitric oxides during the combustion processes must be reduced by control of excess air temperature, fuel supply, and combustion air distribution at the burner inlet, The formation of thermal NO increases dramatically above 980 Table 13.10)... 

In critical applications, if stainless steel is to be used near its limit (in terms of corrosion), and for cases such as welds, where a good finish cannot be otherwise achieved, additional passivation is required. Nitric acid (10-15 per cent by volume) is the best passivator. It also dissolves iron contamination. In circumstances where the use of nitric acid is not possible for safety or physical reasons (such as the underside of vessel roofs) passivation paste is appropriate. Both materials are used at ambient temperature and require a contact time of approximately 30 minutes. They must be removed by thorough rinsing with low chloride-content water. 

For special applications special silicon-bearing austenitic steels are produced by a few manufacturers. Silicon contents are 4-5-3% and there is a corresponding increase in nickel and very low (<0-015%) carbon. In the welded state these are giving good service in nitric acid of over 90% strength up to 75°C. 

For some chemical plant applications the iron content of the titanium employed can influence its behaviour, e.g. in some strengths of nitric acid, and in chlorine dioxide, preferential weld attack may occur if the iron... 

The main use of rhodium is with platinum in catalysts for oxidation of automobile exhaust emissions. In the chemical industry, it is used in catalysts for the manufacture of ethanoic acid, in hydroformylation of alkenes and the synthesis of nitric acid from ammonia. Many applications of iridium rely on... 

Uses. Since 1947, 70 to 85% of the annual USA production of nitric acid has gone into the production of NH4 nitrate fertilizer, initially in the form of solid prills currently, increasing amounts have been supplied mixed with excess ammonia and/or urea as aqueous nitrogen solution for direct application to the soil. Some 15% is used in explsj (nitrates nitro compds), and about 10% is consumed by the chemical industry. As the red fuming acid or as nitrogen tetroxide, nitric acid is used extensively as the oxidizer in proplnts for rocketry. It is estimated that current USA capacity for nitric acid is in excess of 10 million tons (Refs 30, 34, 36 37)... 

Another extremely important application area for FNA and RFNA is to either directly nitrate or be used in mixed acids to nitrate raw materials to yield widely used expls and proplnt ingredients (Refs 29,31,33,38 39). Also see under Nitration in this Vol Analytical. Analysis and assay procedures for nitric acid may be found in Refs 1, 2,10,11,15, 17, 27, 29, 34, 35, and in this Vol under Nitrogen Determinations in Energetic Materials. 

Considerable support exists for Reaction 18a (35). The application of an electrostatic field during radiolysis of ethylene-nitric oxide (I.P. 9.25 e.v.) mixtures showed no enhancement of the butene yields, consistent with an ionic mechanism. When mixtures of C2D4 and C2H4 are irradiated in the presence of nitric oxide, product butene consists almost entirely of C4H8, C4D4H4, and C4D8—evidence for a molecular association mechanism. 

The application of the fluorescence derivatization technique in an HPLC method involves utilization of a post column reaction system (PCRS) as shown in Figure 3 to carry out the wet chemistry involved. The reaction is a 2-step process with oxidation of the toxins by periodate at pH 7.8 followed by acidification with nitric acid. Among the factors that influence toxin detection in the PCRS are periodate concentration, oxidation pH, oxidation temperature, reaction time, and final pH. By far, the most important of these factors is oxidation pH and, unfortunately, there is not one set of reaction conditions that is optimum for all of the PSP toxins. The reaction conditions outlined in Table I, while not optimized for any particular toxin, were developed to allow for adequate detection of all of the toxins involved. Care must be exercised in setting up an HPLC for the PSP toxins to duplicate the conditions as closely as possible to those specified in order to achieve consistent adequate detection limits. 

About 3 billion kilograms of hydrochloric acid are produced each year, mostly as a by-product of the plastics industry. The largest single use of hydrochloric acid is the pickling of steel. The pickling process removes iron(III) oxide (FC2 O3, rust) from the surface of the metal. About a third of all hydrochloric acid is used to produce other chemicals, mostly ionic compounds. Other strong acids have specialized applications in indushy and research laboratories, but none approaches the importance of sulfuric, nitric, and hydrochloric acids. 

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