ÁCIDO CLORÍDRICO - Esquema de Fabricação

O produto fabricado nesta instalação é o ácido clorídrico a 33 ou 36%.

O Ácido Clorídrico (HCl) é uma solução aquosa incolor ou ligeiramente amarelada, que
se produz por via térmica, ou seja, por combustão do hidrogénio em ambiente clorado.
Forma-se assim o cloreto de hidrogénio gasoso que é posteriormente absorvido por
água, resultando então a solução aquosa de ácido clorídrico. A produção de HCl é
realizada em duas instalações denominadas Sínteses, perfeitamente independentes
uma da outra.

Este processo é representado pela seguinte reacção química:

Uma unidade de síntese que é constituída por :

um forno de síntese com refrigeração, onde se obtém gás clorídrico, por

combustão de hidrogénio em ambiente clorado num queimador especial;

um absorvedor refrigerado, onde o gás clorídrico é absorvido pela água para

formar uma solução de ácido clorídrico;

No sentido de minimizar qualquer impacto no meio ambiente, os gases de saída dos

queimadores passam por colunas de neutralização que funcionam em circuito fechado
circulando uma solução alcalina
O Ácido Clorídrico é obtido pela queima de Cloro e Hidrogênio, formando o gás
Cloreto de Hidrogênio, que depois é absorvido em água.

Apresenta-se como um líquido fumegante claro e ligeiramente amarelado, com odor

pungente e irritante, contém cerca de 33% de Cloreto de Hidrogênio em peso e é
comercializado nesta forma, a granel. O transporte é feito em carros-tanque. Sendo um
produto tóxico e corrosivo.

É utilizado principalmente para limpeza e tratamento de metais ferrosos, flotação e

processamento de minérios, acidificação de poços de petróleo, regeneração de resinas
de troca iônica, na construção civil, na neutralização de efluentes, na fabricação de
produtos para a indústria de alimentos e farmacêutica, entre muitos outros.

Dados do Ácido Clorídrico

Sinônimos – Ácido Muriático, muriatic acid, chlorohydric acid, hydrochloric acid.

Fórmula Química – HCl

Dados físicos

Aparência, líquido límpido e incolor ou levemente amarelado com cheiro pungente

( Evite Cheirar!! ), o Ácido concentrado é fumegante, sendo seu ponto de fusão –25ºC,
seu ponto de ebulição de 109ºC e sua gravidade específica é igual á 1,19.

Estabilidade

O Ácido Clorídrico é estável, por isso evite a aproximação a chamas, fontes de calor, o
mesmo é incompatível coma a maioria dos metais comuns, Aminas, Óxidos metálicos,
Anidrido Acético, Propiolactona, Acetano de Vinila, Sulfato de Mercúrio, Fosfeto de
Cálcio, Formaldeído, Álcalis, Carbonatos, Bases Fortes, Ácido Sulfúrico, Ácido
Clorosulfônico.

Equipamentos de Segurança para uso:

Óculos de segurança ou protetor facial

Avental ou Jaleco

Luvas impermeáveis

Toxicologia

Extremamente corrosivo, a inalação do vapor pode causar ferimentos sérios, a ingestão

pode ser fatal. O líquido pode causar danos à pele e aos olhos TLV 5 ppm.
Risco ao meio ambiente

Letal para peixes a partir de 25mg/l, tóxico para organismos aquáticos devido à
alteração de pH!!

CONSIDERAÇÕES PARA ELIMINAÇÃO

Sempre que não for possível salvar a substância para reutilização ou reciclagem, esta
deve ser colocada em um aparato aprovada e apropriada para eliminação do lixo. O
processamento, o uso ou contaminação deste produto pode alterar a forma de
administrar o lixo.

AVISO ESPECIAL EM CASO DE INCÊNDIO! – No caso de fogo, usar

equipamento protetor completo, contento respirador individual operando com demanda
de pressão ou outro sistema de pressão positiva.

Introduction
Even in the sixteenth century chemists knew that by heating common salt and concentrated sulphuric
acid together, hydrogen chloride could be prepared. The sodium sulphate salt obtained during the
reactions studied intensively for its properties is called Glauber's salt after the discoverer Johann Glauber.

Occurrence of Hydrochloric Acid

Every one of us carries a hydrochloric acid manufacturing unit in our body! It is present in the gastric
juice of all mammals. In the stomach hydrochloric acid helps to produce pepsin, which is used for the
digestion of proteins. It also helps to destroy harmful microorganisms that enter the stomach along with the
food.

Preparation of Hydrogen Chloride Gas

By Synthesis
Hydrogen chloride gas can be prepared by the direct combination of hydrogen gas and chlorine gas in
the presence of sunlight. The reaction is explosive in direct sunlight. However, in diffused sunlight the
reaction is slow and controllable. In the dark, the reaction hardly takes place.

Hydrogen chloride gas can also be obtained by burning hydrogen in chlorine.

Physical Properties of Hydrogen Chloride Gas

Odour : It has a pungent and choking smell. If inhaled, it corrodes the delicate membrane of the
respiratory passages.

Chemical Properties of Hydrogen Chloride Gas

Combustibility : Hydrogen chloride gas is neither combustible, nor does it support combustion.

Tests for Hydrogen Chloride Gas

 Following tests could be conducted for checking the presence of hydrogen chloride gas:
1) The presence of a pungent, suffocating odour.
2) It produces dense white fumes with ammonia.

Hydrochloric Acid and its Preparation

Hydrochloric acid is prepared by dissolving hydrogen chloride gas in water. Hydrogen chloride is a
covalent compound, but when dissolved in water it ionizes to form hydrogen ions and chloride ions as
follows:

Industrial Preparation of Hydrochloric Acid

Hydrochloric acid is produced along with the industrial preparation of caustic soda (sodium hydroxide).
During the electrolysis of sodium chloride, large quantities of hydrogen and chlorine gas are obtained as
by-products. These two gases are burnt to form hydrogen chloride gas.

The hydrogen chloride gas so formed is dissolved in water to form hydrochloric acid. A saturated
solution of the acid has a density of 1.2 g cm-3. It contains about 40% by mass of hydrogen chloride.

Properties of Hydrochloric Acid

Action on Indicators (Acidic Properties)
a) It turns litmus paper from blue to red.
b) It turns methyl orange from yellow to pink.
c) It turns phenolpthalein (alkaline) from deep pink to colorless.

Tests for Hydrochloric Acid

For checking the presence of the hydrochloric acid, the following tests could be conducted:
1) It turns blue litmus paper red.
2) When silver nitrate solution is added to hydrochloric acid, it gives white precipitate of silver chloride.

Uses of Hydrochloric Acid

The main uses of the hydrochloric acid are mentioned below:
1) Hydrochloric acid is used in the production of dyes, drugs, paints, photographic chemicals etc.
2) It is used for the production of glucose from starch.
3) It is used for the extraction of glue from bones.

Summary
Hydrochloric acid is used in the production of dyes, drugs, paints, photographic chemicals and in the
preparation of aqua-regia for dissolving metals like gold and platinum.

Hydrochloric Acid History

Hydrochloric Acid history is interesting and varied. Whilst the origins of Hydrochloric Acid
history can be traced as far back as the Middle Ages when it was used by alchemists who were
trying to find the philosopher's stone, it was not until the Industrial Revolution that large scale
production of Hydrochloric Acid began.

Hydrochloric Acid is also commonly known as Muriatic Acid and its chemical formula is HCl.
Highly concentrated Hydrochloric Acid is known as Fuming Hydrochloric Acid, Fuming Muriatic
Acid or Fuming HCl. When the word 'fuming' appears in the name, this means that the
concentration is approximateley 36% to 40%. We can see Hydrochloric Acid history reflected in
the word 'Muriatic' which translates as 'pertaining to salt or brine'. This reflects the origins of
production, as it was first produced by mixing Vitriol (Sulphuric Acid) with Salt. Old variants of
the Hydrochloric Acid name include Spirit of Salts, Acidum Salis, Salt Acid and Marine Acid Air.

Hydrochloric Acid is now widely used in the chemical

industry, in the steel-making industry and also in the production of Vinyl Chloride for PVC.
Hydrochloric Acid is important in the food industry where it is used in the canning process of
foodstuffs and in the production of corn syrups and soft drinks. Hydrochloric Acid is also widely
used in the building industry where its applications include brick-cleaning and concrete
'etching'. Hydrochloric Acid is also found in many household cleaning products.

Hydrochloric Acid is classified as highly 'Corrosive' and is one of the most widely used mineral
acids. Strict legislation governs the packaging, labelling and transport of Hydrochloric Acid.
Further information on Hydrochloric Acid Hazards, Packaging, Labelling and Transporting
Hydrochloric Acid can be found on the relevant pages of this website.

An interesting fact is that a form of Hydrochloric Acid occurs naturally in the gut in the form of
Gastric Acid. The acid found here would be strong enough to slowly corrode metal! However, it
does not damage the stomach as it is protected by a thick mucous layer.

The function of this Gastric Acid in the gastric juices is to help to break down food before it is
processed and eliminated. This naturally occuring Gastric Acid also helps to protect the
stomach against infection.

The stomach also receives additional protection from Gastric Acid damage by the presence of
sodium bicarbonate which occurs naturally to act as a buffer against the acid. When people
suffer from heartburn or ulcers, this is often due to the fact that the sodium bicarbonate buffer in
the stomach has failed to work. In these cases, antacids are prescribed to mimic the natural
sodium bicarbonate and help reduce gastric discomfort.

As you can see, Hydrochloric Acid history is indeed interesting and varied