What are the industrial uses for acids and bases

The industrial uses for acids and bases are many and varied. Acids have a multitude of uses in different industries. Industries that use acids include mining, metalworking, the chemical and petrochemical industries, pollution control, and construction. Bases have numerous applications in agriculture production, water treatment, laboratory testing and analysis. In both cases corrosion is a concern.

Materials used to combat corrosion include acids that etch metals such as sulfuric acid or hydrochloric acid. These acids are used to etch through upper layers of rust on steel before applying phosphate chemicals to create a protective coating for the steel's exposed surface areas. Metal cleaning baths also typically contain acids that work on organic materials such as fats or oils before using detergents for specific cleaning purposes such as those found in paint removal processes. The following are industrial uses for acids and bases;

Industrial uses for acids

1. Mining

The mining industry can be best defined as the extraction of mineral ores. Mining has been a part of the earth's makeup since its beginning and with researching new techniques and alternatives to drill and bore, mining continues to change in various ways. Mining is also influenced by the environment; major environmental factors include the earth's temperature, wind, humidity and geography, which affects what types of rock are mined. Air pollution and acid rain are also a major concern in today's mining industry. Acid pollution is caused by sulfur dioxide (SO) and nitrogen oxide (NO).

2. Metalworking

Metalworking is the process of shaping metal into usable forms, the most common form being sheets, bars and rods. The metal needs to be work hardened to form a basic structure. The metalwork industry can be grouped into two main categories: primary and secondary. Primary metalwork is the process of transforming raw materials into a finished product, secondary metalwork is the process of restoring and maintaining products after they have been processed. Industrial metals are classified as primary metals in that they can be used directly without being consumed by other processes such as secondary metalwork. Examples of some primary metals are titanium, molybdenum, nickel and chromium. Some examples of some secondary metals are steel, aluminium and copper.

3. Chemical and Petrochemical

Acids are commonly used in refining oil, which is the process of taking crude oil and processing it into petroleum. The fluids that leave the refinery contain large amounts of contaminants like sulfur. To remove these contaminants acids are used to strip away at the contaminants until only pure oil is left. An example used in a refining process is the removal of hydrogen sulfide from the extracted oils using hydrochloric acid. Hydrochloric acid can also be used to remove asphalt from crude oils, this is an example of a neutralization reaction.

Industrial uses bases

1. Soil Conditioning

Bases are used to control erosion in soils and are therefore used in agriculture. Soil conditioners contain bases such as potassium hydroxide and ammonia. Using bases to control erosion is possible because of the reaction it has with the soil. When bases are added to soil they increase the pH level and make the soil more basic. This also causes an increase in cation exchange capacity, which allows for nutrients released into the soil by plants to be more readily absorbed by plant roots. Examples of some not so common examples of soils that can be conditioned include asphalt, masonry, and wood chips, all of which can use industrial bases for conditioning purposes.

2. Agricultural Processing

Bases are also used in agricultural processing. Most commonly bases are added to food products to enhance taste, but they can also be used as a preservative by controlling the growth of bacteria in foods. Bases are commonly added to jams, jellies and pickles for the purpose of sterilization and protection from microorganisms that can cause decay or food poisoning when consumed .

3. Waste Treatment and Water Conservation

Bases have many applications in waste treatment facilities. Bases such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide and ammonia are used to bind hazardous materials found in industrial waste products. By doing this it prevents these chemicals from polluting the environment.

4. Soil Conservation

Bases are also used to restore soils. Bases help to decrease soil acidity in areas that have been affected by acid rain. This causes an increase in the pH level (an alkaline environment) and more cation exchange capacity (which allows for nutrients released into the soil to be more readily absorbed by plant roots). This is good as plants need a certain level of nutrients in order to grow and produce fruits, plants and vegetables. An example used of this process is the restoration of damaged apple orchards. The process involves adding bases such as calcium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide or ammonia (NaOH) to neutralize the acidity caused by sulfur dioxide(SO).

In conclusion, industrial uses for acids and bases are inevitable and needed because they come in a wide array of forms, are used to purify materials and are needed to maintain the functionality of the majority of our planet. Formulating these acids and bases and incorporating them into industrial processes is a very integral part of our everyday lives.