Over the last few decades, the chemical industry has experienced remarkable expansion. Several economic sectors, including agriculture, the service industry, construction, and the production of consumer goods, now utilize different kinds of industrial chemicals. The use of chemicals is wide and varied with a large number of consumers all across the world. And each year, hundreds of new kinds of chemicals are manufactured for a variety of industrial uses.
Many different manufacturers produce various industrial chemicals for use in some industrial applications. They are actually manufactured and developed using natural resources including air, water, and minerals. And as mentioned, the need for industrial chemicals for numerous uses has significantly increased today with the advent of industrialization.
Chemicals are used in a variety of ways, such as cleaners, polishes, varnishes, adhesives, solvents, dyes for photocopying, and so on. Whether or not these substances fall within the category of industrial chemicals depends on how they are used. Some are even utilized in the creation of other industrial chemicals as well, while others are used to produce energy for manufacturing consumer items. These chemicals are used nowadays for a variety of things. It includes the production of explosives, various engine fuels, various types of dyes and paints, insulators, cosmetics, detergents, and soaps.
Chlorine
Chlorine is one of the industrial chemicals that is most frequently used in the production of bleaching agents. But since chlorine is thought to be bad for the environment, it has been substituted by a substance called hydrogen peroxide.
This industrial chemical actually has many uses. One is that it is able to produce consumer and industrial products like plastics, pharmaceuticals, dyes, household cleaners, insecticides and textiles. Also, it can treat water in multiple ways — eliminating waterborne pathogens during water purification in water treatment plants, and killing bacteria in swimming pools. And in addition to these, it can also act as a major reactant in the production of bulletproof vests, computer chips, and auto parts.
Chlorine has a significant role in organic chemistry as well. It is employed in substitution processes and as an oxidizing agent. At some point during their production, chlorine or its derivatives are used in 85% of pharmaceuticals.
Sulfuric Acid
One of the most frequently utilized chemical acids that aids in neutralizing alkaline compounds is sulfuric acid. It primarily functions to remove harmful compounds and neutralize the impact of alkaline substances. It has also topped the list of industrial chemicals produced globally over the years for its numerous uses. In addition, its main industrial application is the production of phosphoric acid, a key component of the majority of chemical fertilizers.
The main products made with sulfuric acid are ammonium sulfate and superphosphate fertilizers. Moreover, other items like detergents, lead-acid car batteries, and other chemicals including hydrochloric acid, dye, explosives, pigments, and pharmaceuticals also employ sulfuric acid.
Other uses of this chemical include removing impurities during petroleum refining, metallic oxides before electroplating and galvanizing metal, as well as water during certain chemical reactions. Additionally, it acts as a reactant in the manufacture of rayon and nitroglycerine.
Nitrogen
Nitrogen is an inert substance that is often used in industries to control and avoid thermal reactions. As an alternative to air, it is also utilized in solid conveying gas carriers. Nitrogen is actually used in businesses to regulate reaction temperatures and stop oxygen and vapor from combining to prevent explosions. Furthermore, in order to avoid explosions, it is also employed as a gas carrier conveyance option to air.
Nitrogen can also be able to freeze materials for processing quickly. For example, it is frequently used to freeze worn tires to make them simpler to shred for recycling. Also, it can be used in the manufacturing of steel and other metals. With nitrogen, concrete can also be cooled, which enhances the building material’s qualities. Chemical engineers can better control side reactions by cooling down chemical reactors as well, all with the help of this particular industrial chemical.
In the food industry, the quick-cooling aspect of nitrogen is used to minimize cell damage from ice crystals, which are commonly formed during the normal freezing process. Another use of nitrogen in this industry involves liquid nitrogen in refrigerated vehicles, reducing the contact of the food with air is another application in the food service industry. In the healthcare industry, on the other hand, it utilizes liquid nitrogen to freeze blood and tissue samples, as well as in cryosurgery to destroy tissue, such as warts.
Sodium Hydroxide
Widespread use of sodium hydroxide occurs in the production of soaps and colors. It is one of the alkaline materials that are frequently used in industries. It can also be used as an effective cleaning agent because it can neutralize acids. Sodium hydroxide is also the go-to substance in industry when a powerful base is needed. It has numerous applications across numerous sectors. In the petroleum industry, on the other hand, sodium hydroxide is utilized as a means of raising the pH of drilling mud and enhancing its viscosity.
Apart from what has been mentioned above, sodium hydroxide is also used in soap making, in the production of biodiesel, and can even be used as an industrial cleaning agent, particularly in the process of degreasing certain equipment. At home, this chemical can also be used as an oven and drain cleaner.
Propylene
Among other industrial chemicals, propylene is used as an intermediate in the production of other chemical compounds. Propylene is an organic gas compound and is sometimes referred to as propene or methyl ethylene. It is a naturally occurring byproduct of fermentation, making it a crucial molecule for the development of the green chemistry industry.
On the other hand, it is also made from fossil fuels. Propane is a crucial component of the petrochemical industry and is used as a raw material for many different goods. Globally, it is generated annually in excess of 85,000,000 tons, largely for use as fuel or in the manufacture of rubber and plastic.
Key Takeaway
There are multiple kinds of industrial chemicals that can be used for many applications and products, which provides several benefits as well. Some of them can easily be obtained, given the large number of chemical manufacturers and dealers. Moreover, many businesses have started producing chemicals domestically as a result of the rise in chemical manufacturers in the country.
