Pending Sulfuric Acid Shortage?

[mxd0gia]

I have been hearing rumors that there's going to be a severe sulfuric acid shortage due to the following which is going to drastically effect the price of H2SO4:
1)from the ethanol plants which use sulfuric acid in their processes (fermentation of ethanol)
2)production of more phosphate fertilizers which use 60% of all sulfuric acid produced
3)metal processing which uses sulfuric acid in its leaching process
4)global boom in construction which uses metals such as nickel and copper
5) Shutdown of sulfuric acid facilities in the US
Scheduled shutdown for maintenance in the fourth quarter (US Plants)
Have any of you heard of this pending problem? We currently use sulfuric acid in our cooling towers, what would be a good alternative to sulfic acid if this supply/demand becomes an issue?

 

[ash9144]

There is a tight market for sulfuric right now. However the amount you would use in a cooling tower is quite small. There would be very little economic benefit to switch to something else. Sulfuric is around 90 $/ton. So one truck load is only a few thousand dollars and would last quite awhile. If you are using acid in your process that would change the economics.

 

[bimr]

There is no such thing as a "shortage" in a market economy.

Market economy or free market economy functions primarily depending upon the forces of the market, namely demand and supply. The institution of the market allocates and distributes commodities based on the principle of "price" determined by the interaction of the forces of the market. Price of a commodity generally shoots up when its demand exceeds supply and when the reverse occurs, it is generally associated with price cuts of the good in question.

An alternative acid to use is hydrochloric acid.

You can also increase the tower blowdown and reduce the consumption of acid as well.

 

[moltenmetal]

Sulphuric acid is still one of the cheapest commodity chemicals. If the price rises, there will be incentive for people with acid plants under capacity to start burning sulphur. Doubt any shortage will last long.

 

[kb06810]

ash9144 - That $90/ton price...is that from experience? I have been hearing things like $300/ton (in TX), but not sure if it's just a quantity diff (buying drums vs. buying tanker). Thanks for any light you can shed...

 

[ash9144]

$90 is what I saw as current market price. That is bulk quantities (rail, truck, barge). If in drums probably some specialized grade (purity). Yes I spent 4 years in sulfuric regeneration unit.

 

[BRT549]

The use of sulfuric acid in ethanol production might take off, since it is used in cellulose breakdown.

The phosphoric acid fertilizer plants in the US are running near capacity, but I don't think there are any plans to increase capacity with any new plants.

There are mountains of sulfur in Canada that can and will be used if market forces demand it.

I'd agree on the $90 price for bulk rail. The use of sulfuric acid for potato vine kill is over for the season, so prices should stay level for a while.