Hydrogen chloride is a gas at room temperature. Solutions of hydrogen chloride in water are known as hydrochloric acid. Hydrogen chloride is widely used in the chemical industry as a reagent in the manufacture of other chemicals. Most of it is produced as a co-product of reactions involving chlorine.
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit TYHJ.
Among its many applications in the chemical industries, hydrogen chloride is used:
The vast majority of hydrogen chloride/hydrochloric acid is formed as a co-product. In the US, for example, hydrogen chloride/hydrochloric acid, as a co-product, accounts for about 90% of the total output, much of this is in the production of chloroethene via 1,2-dichloroethane, for the production of poly(chloroethene), PVC. This is then used to produce more 1,2-dichloroethane and is thus unavailable for other processes.
The manufacture of magnesium by electrolysis of magnesium chloride also produces the acid but this is again recycled.
Amongst other processes that produce hydrogen chloride/hydrochloric acid is the chlorination of hydrocarbons, for example the chlorination of methane to form chloromethane, ethane to chloroethane and benzene to chlorobenzene.
Other processes in which hydrogen chloride/hydrochloric acid is produced includes the manufacture of isocyanates used to make polyurethanes and in the manufacture of fluorocarbons.
Some plants in which hydrogen chloride/hydrochloric acid is generated have been built close to plants which use the acid. For example, the hydrogen chloride/hydrochloric acid produced from the manufacture of isocyanates is then piped across to a PVC plant to produce 1,2-dichloroethane.
The acid is also produced in the manufacture of potassium sulfate (used as a speciality fertilizer, for example for citrus fruits and grapes) from potassium chloride and sulfuric acid.
A small amount of the acid is produced by burning chlorine in hydrogen. Both reactants are produced from the electrolysis of aqueous solutions of sodium chloride (brine). The reactants are heated together. The reaction is highly exothermic and great care is taken to control the reaction, mainly, by controlling the flow rates of the two gases.
For more information, please visit hydrogen chloride gas.
Both hydrogen and chlorine are very pure, when manufactured by the electrolysis of brine. The resulting hydrogen chloride is either used as a gas or is absorbed in water in special vessels, usually made of graphite. It is stored as a concentrated solution (about 30% HCl) and is the purest hydrochloric acid produced.
Date last amended: 15th February
Hydrogen chloride (aHCl) is a distinctly different substance than hydrochloric acid (HCl). aHCl is a colorless gas at atmospheric pressure with a sharp, irritating odor. It is manufactured via synthesis in a burner unit where hydrogen gas is reacted with chlorine gas. It is very hydroscopic and in moist air, forms white fumes which are a mist of hydrochloric acid. Liquid aHCl has a high coefficient of thermal expansion, therefore, the pressure in equipment containing this substance must be closely monitored. aHCl is compressed (liquified) and shipped via railroad tank cars, cargo tank (trucks), tube trailers, and cylinders.
The Institute maintains the below resources for aHCl. Refer to CI's Resource Catalog for fuller details and visit the CI Bookstore.
Hydrochloric acid is a distinctly different substance than hydrogen chloride (anhydrous). HCl, commonly known as muriatic acid, is a solution of hydrogen chloride and water that contains less than 38 wt.% hydrogen chloride. It exists as a liquid under atmospheric conditions, however, is prone to fuming at higher concentrations or elevated temperatures. At chlor-alkali facilities, HCl is commonly produced via the absorption of aHCl into water. Other industrial manufacturing byproduct product sources of HCl are more prominent. HCl has many uses such as the production of pharmaceuticals and chemicals, food processing, steel pickling, natural gas and oil, and various water industry uses (resin regeneration, pH and scale control).
The Institute maintains the below resources for HCl. Refer to CI's Resource Catalog for fuller details and visit the CI Bookstore.
This video provides guidelines, recommended practices and other information for the safe handling, storage, loading and unloading of hydrochloric acid tank cars and tank trucks. This video also includes hydrochloric acid properties, reactivity, suitable materials of construction, and common uses.
This video provides guidance for reducing non-accident releases (NARs) from tank car shipments of hydrochloric acid (HCl). Topics covered include the definition of an NAR, U.S. Department of Transportation incident reporting requirements, shipper responsibilities, best practices to reduce HCl tank car NARs and available guidance and resources, such as additional Chlorine Institute guidance.
This video provides an overview of best practices to prevent releases during cargo tank shipments of certain CI mission chemicals, namely sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, hydrochloric acid, and sodium hypochlorite. Viewers, including plant operators and drivers, will learn requirements for reporting hazmat transportation releases to DOT, review related DOT-reported cargo tank incident data, understand the sources and cause of common releases during cargo tank transport and operations, and learn best practices for preventing these types of releases.
Are you interested in learning more about High Quality Ethane Gas? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!