Dateline: January 15, 2005

Chemical Industy News from the U.S.
Chemical Industry News from India
Technically Speaking

Chemical Industry News from the U.S.

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Chemical Industry News from India

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Technically Speaking

How is HCl produced?

Interesting question....a lot of hydrochloric acid isn't "produced" on purpose.  It's usually a by-product of many, many different chlorination processes used in the chemical processing industry.  In the United States, a stagering 90% of the HCl capacity comes from by-products while only about 10% of the capacity results from the burning of H2 and Cl2 to form HCl gas.  The resulting gas is then absorbed into water to produce acid. 

The "intentional" production process is used widely in other parts of the world.  The reaction is completed around 200 °C (392 °F) and the resulting gas can reach 99% HCl purity.  The absorption with water is accomplished in a column made of tantalum or graphite.  The absorption gives off about 1625 kJ/kg of HCl gas absorbed.  This heat must be removed by the adsorber for efficient operation.