Key Uses of 68% Nitric Acid
Fertilizer Production: Roughly 80% of global production is used to manufacture nitrogen-based fertilizers, specifically ammonium nitrate and calcium ammonium nitrate.
Industrial Explosives: It is crucial for nitration processes that create commercial and military explosives, including TNT (trinitrotoluene), nitroglycerin, and RDX.
Metallurgy and Metal Treatment:
Stainless Steel Pickling: Removes surface impurities and oxides.
Passivation: Enhances the corrosion resistance of stainless steel.
Metal Refining: Used to separate and purify precious metals like gold and silver.
Etching: Used in metal engraving and to create circuitry patterns on PCBs (printed circuit boards).
Chemical Synthesis: Acts as a reagent in the production of polymers, dyes, and pharmaceutical intermediates.
Laboratory and Analytical Uses: