What is Sulphuric Acid?
Chemical Formula: H₂SO₄
Appearance: Colorless to slightly yellow, oily liquid
Nature: Strong mineral acid, highly corrosive, soluble in water
Grades Available:
- Industrial Grade – for chemical and industrial applications
- Battery Grade – for lead-acid batteries
Major Uses of Sulphuric Acid in Industry
Fertilizer Industry (Largest Use)
- Single Super Phosphate (SSP)
- Ammonium Sulphate
Key raw material for phosphate fertilizers such as:
Provides essential sulphur and phosphorus for plants.
Chemical Manufacturing
- Produces sulfates (aluminum sulfate, copper sulfate, etc.)
- Used in hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, dyes, pigments, and detergents
- Raw material for industrial chemicals like titanium dioxide
Petroleum Refining
- Used in alkylation units in petroleum refining
- Helps remove impurities from crude oil fractions
Metal Industry
- Used in metal pickling (cleaning metal surfaces)
- Prepares metals for plating, galvanizing, or coating
Lead-Acid Batteries
- Battery grade H₂SO₄ is used as electrolyte in car and industrial batteries
Water Treatment
- pH adjustment in water treatment plants
- Used for controlling alkalinity in industrial water systems
Pharmaceuticals
- Used in drug manufacturing as a reagent or catalyst
- Intermediate in producing certain medicines and acids
Textile Industry
- Used for scouring, dyeing, and finishing textiles
- Helps in pH control of processing solutions
Paper & Pulp Industry
- Used in wood pulp treatment and bleaching
Explosives Industry
- Used in production of nitric acid and explosives such as TNT
Safety Note
- Extremely corrosive and reactive
- Can cause severe burns and eye damage
- Must be handled with PPE
- Transported in IBC Tanks/HDPE Drums