INDUSTRIAL CHEMISTRYINDUSTRIAL CHEMISTRY

CHEM 2017CHEM 2017 Lect 1 2008 Lect 1 2008

General introductionGeneral introduction

M S SCURRELLM S SCURRELL

CHEMISTRY BUILDING, ROOM 101CHEMISTRY BUILDING, ROOM 101

michael.michael.scurrell@wits.ac.zascurrell@wits.ac.za

CONNECTIONS IN INORGANICSCONNECTIONS IN INORGANICS

Why should chlorine and caustic soda Why should chlorine and caustic soda prices be connected?prices be connected?

Why should ammonia and urea Why should ammonia and urea manufacture be done on the same plant?manufacture be done on the same plant?

Why is ammonia a side-product of making Why is ammonia a side-product of making synthetic fuels from coal? [Sasol]synthetic fuels from coal? [Sasol]

CONNECTIONS IN INDUCTRYCONNECTIONS IN INDUCTRY

Why does the ore extraction industry Why does the ore extraction industry manufacture sulphuric acid?manufacture sulphuric acid?

Who fixes the price of ammonia?Who fixes the price of ammonia?

What is needed to make a successful What is needed to make a successful inorganic chemicals business? inorganic chemicals business?

PRODUCTPRODUCT

MARKETMARKET

PRICE PRICE

TECHNOLOGYTECHNOLOGY

Does South Africa manufacture Does South Africa manufacture ammonia in a different way to Japan? ammonia in a different way to Japan? Saudi Arabia? USA? Germany? Saudi Arabia? USA? Germany?

COMMODITY CHEMICALSCOMMODITY CHEMICALS

SPECIALITY CHEMICALSSPECIALITY CHEMICALS

COMMODITYCOMMODITY

High tonnageHigh tonnage World pricingWorld pricing Mature technology & similar Mature technology & similar

CHLORINE, SULPHURIC ACID, CHLORINE, SULPHURIC ACID, AMMONIA, PHOSPHORIC ACIDAMMONIA, PHOSPHORIC ACID

COMMODITY <-> SPECIALITYCOMMODITY <-> SPECIALITY

Lower tonnageLower tonnage Similar specifications, but some Similar specifications, but some

differences between manufacturersdifferences between manufacturers Less consistent pricingLess consistent pricing

TITANIUM DIOXIDE, SYNTHETIC TITANIUM DIOXIDE, SYNTHETIC ZEOLITES, ZEOLITES,

SPECIALITYSPECIALITY

Often not pure chemicalsOften not pure chemicals Trade named mixturesTrade named mixtures Smaller quantities, higher pricesSmaller quantities, higher prices Hi-tech productsHi-tech products

SOLVENTS, HYDRAULIC FLUIDS, SOLVENTS, HYDRAULIC FLUIDS, REFRIDGERANTS, ELECTRONICS REFRIDGERANTS, ELECTRONICS MANUFACTUREMANUFACTURE

EXAMPLES ONLYEXAMPLES ONLY

SULPHURSULPHUR NITROGENNITROGEN HYDROGEN PEROXIDE AND PEROXY HYDROGEN PEROXIDE AND PEROXY

COMPOUNDSCOMPOUNDS FLUORINEFLUORINE ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS (silicas, ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS (silicas,

ZEOLITES)ZEOLITES) PHOSPHORUSPHOSPHORUS PLATINUM GROUP METALS (GOLD)PLATINUM GROUP METALS (GOLD)

Environmental issuesEnvironmental issues

legislationlegislation

MINIMUM STANDARDS MINIMUM STANDARDS TO PROTECT WORK-FORCETO PROTECT WORK-FORCE TO PROTECT IMMEDIATE TO PROTECT IMMEDIATE

ENVIRONMENT OUTSIDE THE PLANTENVIRONMENT OUTSIDE THE PLANT TO PROTECT GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTTO PROTECT GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT

SHESHE

SAFETYSAFETY HEALTHHEALTH ENVIRONMENTENVIRONMENT

EXPOSURE TO CHEMICALSEXPOSURE TO CHEMICALS

Water purity:Water purity:• Triazine herbicides: < 100 ng/lTriazine herbicides: < 100 ng/l• Nitrates < 50 ppm (25 ppm)Nitrates < 50 ppm (25 ppm)• Lead < 25 ppmLead < 25 ppm

AIR QUALITYAIR QUALITY

SOSOxx

NONOxx

LIMITS PLACE HEAVY DEMANDS ON LIMITS PLACE HEAVY DEMANDS ON TECHNOLOGYTECHNOLOGY

CLEAN-UP (END OF PIPE) VERSUS CLEAN-UP (END OF PIPE) VERSUS AVOIDANCE OF PROBLEMAVOIDANCE OF PROBLEM

AIR QUALITYAIR QUALITY

SOSOxx

NONOxx

LIMITS PLACE HEAVY DEMANDS ON LIMITS PLACE HEAVY DEMANDS ON TECHNOLOGYTECHNOLOGY

CLEAN-UP (END OF PIPE) VERSUS CLEAN-UP (END OF PIPE) VERSUS AVOIDANCE OF PROBLEMAVOIDANCE OF PROBLEM

COPPER, NICKEL INDUSTRYCOPPER, NICKEL INDUSTRY

Sulphide oresSulphide ores Need to convert to oxidesNeed to convert to oxides Roasting process produces SORoasting process produces SO22

New technologies:New technologies:• Roasting furnace designRoasting furnace design• Improved catalysts for sulphuric acid Improved catalysts for sulphuric acid

manufacture (KINETICS, manufacture (KINETICS, THERMODYNAMICS)THERMODYNAMICS)

CAR ENGINE EXHAUST CAR ENGINE EXHAUST TREATMENTTREATMENT

High impact on the platinum metal High impact on the platinum metal industryindustry

Price of PtPrice of Pt Price of RhPrice of Rh Price of RuPrice of Ru

High impact on the oil refining industryHigh impact on the oil refining industry Fuel quality, lead-free fuel Fuel quality, lead-free fuel