The future demand for bulk chemicals

Sulphuric acid has suffered a decline in demand in recent years but there has been a slight increase in growth in 1982,1983 and 1984. The changes have been reflected in changing patterns of production of phosphoric acid which is no longer exported as widely as it used to be. Indeed, Morocco for example now has a bigger export market for phosphoric acid as a fertilizer than has the UK. 

The main source of fertilizers is not phosphoric acid but nitrogen compounds, in particular ammonia. The increase in ammonia production in recent years has been exponential and the demand will keep increasing. However, most plant will be built abroad in the countries where it is required, for example, in Saudi Arabia rather than in the UK. 

In recent years considerable emphasis has been placed on energy conservation and environmental pollution control. As discussed earlier, the former problem is likely to be solved, at least in part, by the introduction or wider use of more efficient fuels such as biomass or nuclear fuel, coupled with more controlled application of what is at present waste heat from chemical reactions. This is now more than ever possible because of the improved and improving design of heat pumps, boilers, heat exchangers, etc., the use of which is more nearly optimized by computer control. Emissions of gaseous pollutants have been decreasing in recent years by improved methods of condensation, adsorption. 

Venkatash and B. V. Tilak, 1983, Chlor alkali technology. J. Chem. Educ., 60 (4), 276. 

Sulphuric acid—modern manufacture and uses. Educ. Chem., 21 (1), 7. 

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