Page 181 - CW E-Magazine (24-10-2023)

Special Report

Sulphuric acid – Market dynamics

ABSTRACT for a decade. This exceptional growth NIKHIL SUPEKAR
he growth of Indian chemical has been fuelled by consistent revenue Assistant Vice President
industry is closely linked to the expansion, increasing margins, and a Birla Copper, Dahej
Tdemand and supply of sulph- rise in multiples. The sector is projected Email: nikhil.supekar@adityabirla.com
uric acid. This article explores the fac- to grow at a CAGR of 11-12% during
tors affecting dynamics of sulphuric 2021-27 and by a CAGR 7-10% dur- phuric acid. These solutions, generally
acid markets globally, and in India. ing 2027-40 – tripling its global market contain 20%, 40%, or 65% sulphur tri-
At the same time, it discusses events share by 2040. oxide and are used for the preparation
that could change the market structure. of organic chemicals.
The article also explores how Indian No matter what the year, sulphuric
sulphuric acid industry will shape up, acid (H SO ) tops the list of chemicals Sulphuric acid is used in a wide
4
2
reveals the possible change in behaviour produced worldwide. For this reason, range of industrial processes and manu-
of market participants from 2025, and is often referred as the ‘king of chemi- facturing operations. Its major use
how acid produced by smelters could cals’. is in the production of fertilisers –
be dominating Indian markets. ammonium sulphate and superphos-
Sulphuric acid, also called as oil phates. A high proportion of the manu-
Introduction of vitriol, is a dense, colourless, oily, factured sulphuric acid is used in the
India’s chemicals industry has corrosive liquid. The term fuming sul- production of phosphoric acid, which,
been a global outperformer in demand phuric acid, or oleum, is applied to in turn is used to make phosphatic
growth and shareholder wealth creation solutions of sulphur trioxide in 100% sul- fertilisers. Other uses include copper
leaching, inorganic pigment production,
SSP petroleum refining, paper production,
Ammonium 18% Uranium
Sulphate 0% Industrial and industrial organic chemical production.
4% 34% Sulphuric acid is also used in the manufac-
ture of detergents, lead-acid automobile
batteries, and to make dyes, explosives,
and drugs.
Other
35%
Sulphuric acid production
Sulphuric acid is produced from the
raw material, sulphur. Sulphur is found
Phosphoric Acid Titanium Dioxide in various forms – as pure elemental
43% 1% sulphur called brimstone; and sulphur
Fig. 1: Sector wise consumption of sulphuric acid in India [13.60-mt in 2022] in hydrocarbons, pyrites (FeS/FeS )
2
Source: Hindalco. and various metallic ores.
The old, small sulphuric acid plants
sulphur trioxide used the single absorption process,
which has conversion efficiencies of
sulphuric
O acid 96-98%. However, the newer plants
2 H O
2 utilise the Double Conversion Double
Absorption (DCDA) process, which
S oleum can realise 99+% conversion efficiency.

Incinerator Contact oven (gas oven) 440 o c Intermediate Final absorber In the Frasch process to extract
absorber
2SO + O 2 2SO 3 sulphur from underground deposits, three
2
Fig. 2: Sulphuric acid generation process at Hindalco Industries Ltd. concentric tubes are introduced into
Source: Hindalco. the sulphur deposit. Superheated water

Chemical Weekly October 24, 2023 181

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