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QVF Process Systems Ltd

Hydrochloric Acid
Purification
Introduction
Hydrochloric acid is one of the commonest
chemicals
available today and is used in a wide variety of
applications, some of the most important being:
Metal cleaning - pickling acid.
Petroleum industry - activation of oil well heads.
Food industry - production of sugars, dextrose,
mono-sodium glutamate and starch syrups.
Chemical synthesis/manufacture - organic
chlorides, for example, vinyl chloride.
Leather/tanning industry.

Technical Information
However, disposal costs associated with spent
HCI have been steadily rising and when they are
considered along with the cost of purchasing
fresh acid, it becomes practical to closely
examine the economics of purification of the
spent acid for re-use.
Purification can be simply achieved using the
QVF equipment shown in figure 1.
Process Description
Crude acid (typically of concentration 20 to 35%
w/w) is pumped to a constant head feed vessel
from where it passes, via a control valve and
flowmeter, to a reboiler with one or more steam
heat exchangers mounted in a thermosyphon
loop arrangement. The feed acid is then
evaporated, the vapour passing to a water
cooled reflux condenser
.

Figure 1

In many of these applications, contaminated HCI is


discharged as a by-product (spent acid), but due to
the low cost and availability of fresh supplies, little
or
no effort has been expended in purifying the
contaminated HCI for re-use.

PPAE 07

Due to the properties of aqueous


hydrochloric acid in forming an
azeotrope containing about 20%
acid and HCI gas, the condensed
acid is fed to the top of a packed
column. Reabsorption of the gas
takes place in the column and any
heat of absorption is removed by a
cooler at the base of the column.
Product acid is recirculated by
means of a glass centrifugal pump
The recirculation/product ratio is
about 20:1, product acid being
pumped off intermittently to storage
at a frequency governed by a liquid
level controller incorporated in the
absorption loop. To prevent HCI
gas fumes escaping from the
column vent, the feed of cooled
20% acid is used to wet a small
packed section above the main
absorption column. This effectively
traps any HCI gas unabsorbed by
the circulating strong acid. When
the impurity level in the reboiler unit
has built up to an unacceptable
level, it is drained and the operation
restarted.

Technical Information
Applications
The QVF hydrochloric acid purification system will
operate on any hydrochloric acid up to 36% w/w
concentration to give a pure product essentially of
analytical reagent quality. While all non-volatile
impurities are completely removed by the
purification process, it cannot, however, fully cope
with volatile impurities such as chlorine and
organics. A proportion of these impurities will
remain in the product acid.

Typical Results
Sample A

Sample B

Before

After

Before

After

Appearance

Clear
yellow/brown
with no deposit

Clear and
colourless with
no deposit

Turbid, yellow/
brown with
heavy red
floating deposit

Slightly turbid
and colourless
with no deposit

Specific gravity at 20C

1.145

1.148

1.154

1.157

Total acidity as HCI (% w/w)

29.8

29.5

30.0

30.8

Total halides as HCI (% w/w)

29.4

29.9

30.5

31.3

Excess halides as NH4CI (% w/w)

0.73

0.59

0.67

0.69

Total solids (ppm)

634

16

2,692

50

Sulphite (ppm)

Absent

Absent

Absent

Absent

Iron as Fe (ppm)

196

0.4

51.2

3.0

Bromide and Iodide (ppm)

Complies with British Pharmacopoeia limits

Bromine as Br (ppm)

Less than 30

Less than 30

Less than 30

Less than 30

This Technical Information leaflet supercedes all


previous issues.
QVF Process systems pursues a policy of continuous
product improvement . we therefore reserve the right to
alter any product or process as described and
illustrated.
C 2005 QVF Process Systems Ltd
Tollgate Industrial Estate
Stafford ST16 3HS England
Tel +44 1785 609900 Fax +44 1785 609899
E-mail qvf@qvf.co.uk

PPAE 07

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