There are thousands of industrial chemicals.
Some are used to make consumer goods, some are used to make energy, and some are even used to produce other industrial chemicals.
On a global scale, which chemicals are most important to industrial production?
Sulfuric acid (H2SO4)
Sulfuric acid is the most commonly used industrial chemical in the world.
Its main industrial use is to make phosphoric acid, which is the main component of most fertilizers.
Sulfuric acid is a key ingredient in metal manufacturing, especially in the production of copper and zinc and the cleaning of steel.
Sulfuric acid production has increased by more than 3% annually, largely driven by demand in the Asia-Pacific region.
Ethylene (C2H4)
The annual output of ethylene exceeds 150 million tons, more than any other organic compound.
Its demand is largely due to advances in polymer production, especially polyethylene.
It can also be used to make other industrial chemicals, such as ethanol.
How is ethylene produced?
It is usually produced by steam cracking crude oil. This process is often referred to as “hydraulic fracturing.”
Sodium hydroxide (sodium hydroxide)
Sodium hydroxide is an inorganic compound that is vital to many industries.
It is used in industrial applications, from papermaking to textile development to detergent manufacturing;
The annual output exceeds 70 million tons.
It is usually produced as a by-product of the chlorine production process.
Its popularity largely depends on its low price and its ability to effectively “scrub” the gas during the combustion process to remove acidic substances.
Propylene (C3H6)
Propylene, also known as propylene and/or methyl ethylene, is an organic gas compound.
It is a natural by-product of the fermentation process and an important compound that promotes the development of green chemistry.
On the contrary, it is also produced by fossil fuels.
Propylene is very important to the petrochemical industry and is a raw material for many products.
More than 85 million tons are produced globally each year, mainly for fuel or rubber/plastic production.
Nitrogen (N2)
Hundreds of millions of tons of nitrogen are produced every year.
When combined with hydrogen, nitrogen produces ammonia, which itself is an important industrial chemical.
Nitrogen is used in a range of products, including fertilizers, fabrics, dyes, and even explosives.
As a gas, it can also create a “non-reactive atmosphere”, so it is very useful in food preservation and sterile electronics industries.
Liquid nitrogen is important for medical research and preservation.
Nitrogen is usually produced through a fractional distillation process.
To
Noah Chemical is not only a distributor of high-purity industrial chemicals, we are also a manufacturer.
We work with hundreds of customers every year to meet special requirements and even resolve specific situations.
If you need industrial chemicals, our chemists can help you.
