In food packaging (nitrogen creates an inert atmosphere used to keep food fresh) Nitric acid is manufactured from ammonia. There are three main stages of production. Stage 1: Catalytic oxidation of ammonia Ammonia and air are mixed and pass over platinum gauze at a temperature of 950c and at a pressure of 2 atmospheres. The product is nitrogen monoxide, NO Equation: 4NH3 + 5O2 4NO + 6H2O Stage 2: Further oxidation of nitrogen monoxide The gases are mixed with more air and nitrogen monoxide is converted to nitrogen dioxide. Equation: 2NO + O2 2NO2 Stage 2: Formation of Nitric Acid The gases are mixed with more air and passed up a tower of glass beads that have water flowing down. Equation: 4NO2 + O2 + 2H2O 2HNO3
In food packaging (nitrogen creates an inert atmosphere used to keep food fresh) Nitric acid is manufactured from ammonia. There are three main stages of production. Stage 1: Catalytic oxidation of ammonia Ammonia and air are mixed and pass over platinum gauze at a temperature of 950c and at a pressure of 2 atmospheres. The product is nitrogen monoxide, NO Equation: 4NH3 + 5O2 4NO + 6H2O Stage 2: Further oxidation of nitrogen monoxide The gases are mixed with more air and nitrogen monoxide is converted to nitrogen dioxide. Equation: 2NO + O2 2NO2 Stage 2: Formation of Nitric Acid The gases are mixed with more air and passed up a tower of glass beads that have water flowing down. Equation: 4NO2 + O2 + 2H2O 2HNO3
g-c-s-e-chemistry-notes.docx