How is the preparation of nitric acid by ostwald process

The preparation of nitric acid by ostwald process has been a major topic of discussion. This process has been used industrially to prepare nitric acid at their atmospheric plants. Nitric acid is mainly used in the steel industry as a reducing agent. The applications of this chemical include the production of ammonia and fertilizer. Nitric acid is an important chemical for various industrial processes, including nitroglycerin synthesis, manufacture of carbon black from soot, and in the production of sulfuric acid by concentrating sulfur dioxide gas with molten potassium nitrate solution or molten sodium sulfate mixture. It follows the following steps;

1.Ammonia

The ammonia process is a chemical process used to produce nitric acid. Ammonia is produced by passing the vapour of an aqueous solution of ammonium chloride over a red-hot copper or iron tube. The ammonia produced is absorbed in water, which is then acidified with sulfuric acid to produce nitric acid (this can also be done using a lead plate).

2.Nitric Oxide

Nitric oxide gas is released during striking of flint, or when lightning discharges into the air, and during electric arc welding. Nitric oxide is also produced by the thermal decomposition of nitrates at elevated temperatures, and by the thermal decomposition of trinitrotoluene in a stream of oxygen gas.

3.Nitrification

Nitrification is a microbial process induced by bacteria (nitrifiers) that converts ammonia to nitrate and molecular nitrogen (N). In the presence of O, ferric iron (Fe) or manganese dioxide (MnO), the rate of conversion can be increased about tenfold, so that one part per million of O will effectively convert 1 ppm NH. Nitrification takes place in both aerobic conditions at atmospheric pressure and under anaerobic conditions at higher pressures with greater efficiency.

4.Acidification

The acidification step is the process of producing nitric acid from ammonia. Ammonia gas is absorbed by sodium bisulfite to form ammonium bisulfate . The solution is then acidified with sulfuric acid to produce nitric acid , which is concentrated by distillation and recondensed into anhydrous state. The process was invented by the German chemist Carl Baeyer in 1869, who obtained a patent for it and went on to found BASF (Badische Anilin- und Sodafabrik), now one of the world's largest producers of industrial chemicals. It is also called "wet process". This explains the preparation of nitric acid by ostwald process.

The benefits of ostwald process

1. High production of nitric acid

The heat generated from the reaction between sulfuric acid and ammonia is used to boil water to produce steam. The steam is then used to drive a turbine, which drives the ammonia compressor, that compresses the ammonia vapors into an ammonium sulfate solution. The ammonium sulfate solution can be sold as fertilizer or returned back to the process.

2. Low consumption of energy in production of nitric acid

The Leblanc process converts ammonia into nitric oxide by reacting it with "air". The Ostwald process converts ammonia into nitric oxide by reacting it with sulfuric acid. The overall energy consumption is less in the Ostwald process because of the higher temperature required for boiling water to its maximum pressure.

3. Less waste produced from the reaction between sulfuric acid and ammonia

There is no waste produced when using the Leblanc process because the air separated from the reaction between air and ammonia is recycled to complete another cycle. The Ostwald process produces a pure nitrogen product that can be sold as fertilizer or used in other applications.

4. The temperature of the reactants is kept below the boiling point of ammonia

The Leblanc process breaks down ammonia at a high temperature, which would boil ammonia before it reacts with sulfuric acid. The Ostwald process heats up ammonia to about 80 ℃ to melt it and then cools it back down so that the reaction will take place at a lower temperature.

5. The by-product obtained from both processes is different

In the Leblanc process, water is produced as a by-product, which has to be removed from the system. In the Ostwald process, ammonium sulfate is produced as a by-product.

6. The reaction between ammonia and sulfuric acid takes place in two steps instead of one step in the Leblanc process

The Leblanc process reacts ammonia with sulfuric acid to produce nitric oxide gas directly; the entire reaction occurs at once and produces a hot gaseous mixture that contains some leftover unreacted gases like nitrogen, oxygen and water vapours.

In conclusion, the preparation of nitric acid by ostwald process is a great alternative to the Leblanc process. This process is more cost-effective, less energy consuming and produces a pure nitrogen product with less in waste.