INDUSTRIAL CHEMISTRY INDUSTRIAL CHEMISTRY CHEM 2017 CHEM 2017 Lect Lect General introduction General introduction

M S SCURRELL M S SCURRELL CHEMISTRY BUILDING, ROOM 101 CHEMISTRY BUILDING, ROOM 101

CONNECTIONS IN INORGANICS Why should chlorine and caustic soda prices be connected? Why should chlorine and caustic soda prices be connected? Why should ammonia and urea manufacture be done on the same plant? Why should ammonia and urea manufacture be done on the same plant? Why is ammonia a side-product of making synthetic fuels from coal? [Sasol] Why is ammonia a side-product of making synthetic fuels from coal? [Sasol]

CONNECTIONS IN INDUCTRY Why does the ore extraction industry manufacture sulphuric acid? Why does the ore extraction industry manufacture sulphuric acid? Who fixes the price of ammonia? Who fixes the price of ammonia? What is needed to make a successful inorganic chemicals business? What is needed to make a successful inorganic chemicals business?

PRODUCT PRODUCT MARKET MARKET PRICE PRICE TECHNOLOGY TECHNOLOGY

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

COMMODITY High tonnage High tonnage World pricing World pricing Mature technology & similar Mature technology & similar CHLORINE, SULPHURIC ACID, AMMONIA, PHOSPHORIC ACID CHLORINE, SULPHURIC ACID, AMMONIA, PHOSPHORIC ACID

COMMODITY SPECIALITY Lower tonnage Lower tonnage Similar specifications, but some differences between manufacturers Similar specifications, but some differences between manufacturers Less consistent pricing Less consistent pricing TITANIUM DIOXIDE, SYNTHETIC ZEOLITES, TITANIUM DIOXIDE, SYNTHETIC ZEOLITES,

SPECIALITY Often not pure chemicals Often not pure chemicals Trade named mixtures Trade named mixtures Smaller quantities, higher prices Smaller quantities, higher prices Hi-tech products Hi-tech products SOLVENTS, HYDRAULIC FLUIDS, REFRIDGERANTS, ELECTRONICS MANUFACTURE SOLVENTS, HYDRAULIC FLUIDS, REFRIDGERANTS, ELECTRONICS MANUFACTURE

EXAMPLES ONLY SULPHUR SULPHUR NITROGEN NITROGEN HYDROGEN PEROXIDE AND PEROXY COMPOUNDS HYDROGEN PEROXIDE AND PEROXY COMPOUNDS FLUORINE FLUORINE ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS (silicas, ZEOLITES) ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS (silicas, ZEOLITES) PHOSPHORUS PHOSPHORUS PLATINUM GROUP METALS (GOLD) PLATINUM GROUP METALS (GOLD)

Environmental issues Environmental issues

legislation MINIMUM STANDARDS MINIMUM STANDARDS TO PROTECT WORK-FORCE TO PROTECT WORK-FORCE TO PROTECT IMMEDIATE ENVIRONMENT OUTSIDE THE PLANT TO PROTECT IMMEDIATE ENVIRONMENT OUTSIDE THE PLANT TO PROTECT GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT TO PROTECT GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT

SHE SAFETY SAFETY HEALTH HEALTH ENVIRONMENT ENVIRONMENT

EXPOSURE 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 QUALITY SO x SO x NO x NO x LIMITS PLACE HEAVY DEMANDS ON TECHNOLOGY LIMITS PLACE HEAVY DEMANDS ON TECHNOLOGY CLEAN-UP (END OF PIPE) VERSUS AVOIDANCE OF PROBLEM CLEAN-UP (END OF PIPE) VERSUS AVOIDANCE OF PROBLEM

AIR QUALITY SO x SO x NO x NO x LIMITS PLACE HEAVY DEMANDS ON TECHNOLOGY LIMITS PLACE HEAVY DEMANDS ON TECHNOLOGY CLEAN-UP (END OF PIPE) VERSUS AVOIDANCE OF PROBLEM CLEAN-UP (END OF PIPE) VERSUS AVOIDANCE OF PROBLEM

COPPER, NICKEL INDUSTRY Sulphide ores Sulphide ores Need to convert to oxides Need to convert to oxides Roasting process produces SO 2 Roasting process produces SO 2 New technologies: New technologies: Roasting furnace designRoasting furnace design Improved catalysts for sulphuric acid manufacture (KINETICS, THERMODYNAMICS)Improved catalysts for sulphuric acid manufacture (KINETICS, THERMODYNAMICS)

CAR ENGINE EXHAUST TREATMENT High impact on the platinum metal industry High impact on the platinum metal industry Price of Pt Price of Pt Price of Rh Price of Rh Price of Ru Price of Ru High impact on the oil refining industry High impact on the oil refining industry Fuel quality, lead-free fuel Fuel quality, lead-free fuel