Some Industrial Processes that involve Equilibrium

4 Some Industrial Processes that involve Equilibrium 

We will now look at some other important industrial applications of the chemical principles studied so far. Each of these processes involves at least one step that reaches equilibrium, and so the position of the equilibrium has to be altered in order to make the process economically viable. Although both raising the temperature and increasing the concentration of reactants can speed up reactions, the latter method is costly and the former may destroy some substances in the process. The use of a suitable catalyst is generally more efficient and economical in the long run. A considerable amount of time and money is invested in the development of catalysts. The detailed composition of an industrial catalyst is often a well-guarded secret. 

---

Up to now, all chemical conversions were studied under isothermic conditions. In some cases, particularly for exothermic reactions, calculations are also required for adiabatic conditions. The reason is, that it is often difficult to keep strongly exothermic reactions isothermic under industrial-scale technologic conditions. Equilibrium conditions determined for isothermic and adiabatic conditions are limiting cases of the general course of processes involved. 

---