Cradle to Gate
Identity ID
f63b4dfc-9a31-49a4-a766-e050535bf278
Materials
Associated ID
768c037e-92d2-42a5-8616-0e6c3edc0058
Included activities starts
Included activities ends
Description
Nitric acid is commonly used to manufacture fertilisers and explosives such as ammonium nitrate and nitrobenzene, and is also commonly used in the metallurgical industry for metal pickling and precious metal refining; the dataset models nitric acid as a pure substance, and modelling this substance in solution requires the user to add a solvent of their choice in the model; the dataset contains the main raw and auxiliary materials, energy, atmospheric emissions and waste of the production process, infrastructure such as the manufacture of production equipment and the construction of plant buildings is not included within the dataset boundary, and it does not include catalysts, which the user adds as needed; the data inventory is formed by merging data from multiple sources; the production process of nitric acid is the dual-pressure process, and the process flow includes ammonia-air mixing and oxidation, nitric oxide oxidation, and absorption to acid.
Activity Description
The production process of nitric acid uses a dual pressure process, which includes ammonia-air mixing and oxidation, nitric oxide oxidation, and absorption to form acid.
Process Description
Nitric acid (CAS number: 7697-37-2) is a highly corrosive colorless to light yellow liquid inorganic compound with the chemical formula HNO3. It can be regarded as an oxygen-containing acid in the highest oxidation state of nitrogen (+5 valence). As a strong oxidizing acid, its aqueous solution easily decomposes to generate nitrogen dioxide, oxygen and water, and at the same time releases highly oxidizing active nitrogen oxides, so it has the characteristics of nitrification, acid etching and oxidation. Nitric acid is widely used in the chemical industry due to its strong acidity and strong oxidizing properties. It is an important raw material for the manufacture of ammonium nitrate, nitrobenzene and other fertilizers and explosives. It is used in metal pickling and precious metal refining in the metallurgical industry. It is often used as a nitrating reagent and oxidant in laboratories. It is also a key chemical in dye synthesis, rocket fuel preparation and semiconductor etching processes.
Time period
2020
2026
Geography
China
Macroeconomic value
Business-as-Usual
Data validation
Yes
Technology
Current Technology
Technology comment
The "dual-pressure process" is globally recognized as the most advanced and economical technology for modern nitric acid production and is currently the mainstream process in China. This dataset considers the advanced status that approximately 50% of China's nitric acid production capacity currently employs end-of-pipe treatment technologies such as non-selective catalytic reduction (NSCR), and estimates the nitrous oxide emissions based on the default emission factor for the nitric acid production process.