Nitric Acid Manufacturing

Class Lecture By Engr. Ghulam Abbas

Nitric Acid
Transparent Yellowish colour(due to NO2 emission) Hygroscopic Corrosive and attack all metals 78 C boiling point and -42C its freezing point 100 % HNO3 only stable at below 0C

Manufacturing methods
From Chile Saltpeter NaNO3 and H2SO4 react to produce NaHSO4 and HNO3 Electric Oxidation of Air (N2 & O2) N2 & O2 react (in the presence of electricity) to form NO and more O2 produces NO2 and this is then mixed with H2O to produce HNO3

By Catalytic Oxidation of NH3

HNO3 is produced by High pressure method (Dupont Plant or American Plant) Raw Materials Liq NH3 Air H2O

Conti..
NH3 is produced by reaction N2+3H2 to 2NH3 at 500C and 200 Atm and Iron oxide act as catalyst. N2 is obtained by fixation and H2 through processing of Natural gas Air consists of 79%N and 21% O2 H2O for absorption of Nitrogen per oxide and for raising steam

Catlayst
Platinum, Rhodium alloy composed of 90% Pt and 10%Rh Rhodium promotes catalytic actvity of Pt and called as promoter. Rh also act as erosion resister Catalyst is in the form of 80 mesh gauze

 Two types Single pressure Plant (American / Dupont plants) Dual pressure plants also called European Plants. Earlier,oxidation-absorption,reoxidationreabsorption process was operated at Atmopheric pressure but it was expesive as equipment was large. And HNO3 conc 55-55%

Types of Plant

Conti..
Single pressure plants have lower capital cost and produced more steam Dual pressure unit has lower catalyst cost and a slight higher yield. But overall costs are almost competitive

HNO3 Concentration
61-65% HNO3 by this method Distillation can be used for higher conc upto 68.8% but not more than this as azeorope is formed Distillation in the presence of H2SO4(dehydrating agent) to give 70-75 % HNO3.