This section provides an overview for nitric acid as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 12 nitric acid manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked nitric acid companies as of November, 2024: 1.Hawkins, Inc., 2.M. K. Industrial Corporation, 3.Seya Industries Ltd.
Table of Contents
Nitric acid, represented by the chemical formula HNO3, is a widely recognized strong acid. It poses significant hazards upon contact, capable of damaging skin, the digestive tract, and the respiratory system, necessitating careful handling.
Nitric acid's applications span across various sectors such as agriculture, construction, military, industry, textiles, chemistry, and pharmaceuticals:
As a critical nitrogen source, nitric acid is fundamental in creating fertilizers, alongside phosphoric acid and potassium, to enhance plant growth.
It is essential in synthesizing explosives like nitroglycerin, nitrocellulose, TNT, and picric acid, and serves as an oxidizing agent in rocket propellants due to its rapid decomposition with amines.
Additionally, nitric acid is utilized in producing celluloid, dyes, pigments, electroplating solutions, dissolving metals, pharmaceuticals, synthetic fibers, toluene diisocyanate (for polyurethane), and adipic acid.
A colorless liquid with a molecular weight of 63.02 and a specific gravity of 1.502, nitric acid exhibits a light yellow tint and peculiar odor, fuming when exposed to air. It's a potent acid and oxidizer, reacting aggressively with bases, decomposing under light, and corroding most metals except gold and platinum. Iron, chromium, and aluminum exhibit passivity against it. When heated, it decomposes, emitting toxic fumes and posing risks of violent reactions with flammable or reducing substances and organic compounds.
Nitric acid production predominantly employs the ammonia oxidation method (Ostwald process), consisting of ammonia oxidation to nitric oxide, nitric oxide oxidation to nitrogen dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide absorption in water:
1. Oxidation of Ammonia: Ammonia gas mixed with air passes through a platinum-rhodium catalyst, converting to nitrogen monoxide and water in an exothermic reaction with high yield.
2. Oxidation of Nitric Oxide: The nitric oxide is further oxidized to nitrogen dioxide, a step that benefits from the cooling process's waste heat.
3. Absorption of Nitrogen Dioxide: Nitrogen dioxide reacts with water to produce nitric acid and nitric oxide, typically yielding 55-68% nitric acid, known as dilute nitric acid.
To concentrate nitric acid beyond 68%, water is removed by heating or using a dehydrating agent, overcoming azeotropic limitations.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Hawkins, Inc. is a publicly owned company founded in 1938 and headquartered in Roseville, Minnesota. The company is a formulator, manufacturer, blender, distributor, and sales agent for thousands of industrial and reagent grade laboratory chemicals sold to municipalities and businesses. The company’s primary customers are in water treatment, manufacturing, food & dairy, and laboratory research. The company offers pre and after-market support including delivery special arrangements for unusual products as well as specialized delivery timing options to customers across the United States.
Northstar Chemical, Inc., established in 1996, is an American distributor headquartered in Sherwood, Oregon, specializing in chemical delivery and water treatment services. The company offers a wide range of industrial chemicals, such as citric acid, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, and sulfuric acid. These products find applications across diverse sectors, including agriculture, energy, food and beverage, metal treatment and finishing, as well as wastewater treatment. Additionally, the company provides services like mini-bulk and bulk chemical delivery, with the added option of tank loan, especially for hazardous corrosive chemicals. It also offers services in water treatment, custom chemical blending, and logistics solutions.
Junsei Chemical Co. Ltd., established in 1948 and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a manufacturer of chemical reagents and chemical products, including commissioned synthesis of chemical products. Some of the products it makes include Sodium chloride solution, concentrated glycerin, calcium chloride, ascorbic acid, and nitric acid. The chemical products have a wide range of applications and can be used in pathological examination, as food additives, for analysis, and in the pharmaceutical industry. All its plants, including its research institute, are ISO4001 and ISO9001 certified, while its Saitama and Ibaraki plants are equipped with buildings that comply with GMP.
Kishida Chemical Co. Ltd., established in 1924 and headquartered in Osaka, Japan, is a manufacturer of reagents and high-purity chemicals and also does drug discovery support activities. Its product portfolio includes fine chemicals, research chemicals, ionic liquid, organic micro-analytical reagents, and chemical reagents for analysis. The products support several industries, including reagent business, battery material, drug discovery, and life science. The company is ISO 14001 certified and supplies several companies worldwide, including Meterion Advanced Chemicals Inc., Acros Organics, ChemBridge Corporation, Decon Laboratories, and InerBioScreen Ltd.
Gujarat State Fertilizers & Chemicals Limited, founded in Vadodara, Gujarat, in 1962 is a manufacturer of Fertilizers and Chemical products. The company's product portfolio includes water soluble fertilizers, sulfur based products, seeds, soil conditioners, and micro nutrients. The company serves markets including Medical, Agriculture, Consumer Goods, Industrial Manufacturing and Construction. The company also provides services including national distribution, product selection, customized services, farmer training program, technical support and customer service.
Millipore Sigma, formerly known as Sigma-Aldrich, was created in 175 through the merger of Sigma Chemical Company and Aldrich Chemical company and today is a subsidiary of Merck. Millipore Sigma is a life science and biotechnology company serving the industry with several products and services. Some of their product categories include peptide synthesis materials, biochemicals, building blocks, catalysts, chemical biology, chemical synthesis, flavors & fragrances, formulation, lab chemicals, lab safety, APIs, and stable isotopes. Services include characterization, contract manufacturing, custom products, software, support, testing, and mRNA development & manufacturing.
Merck, started in 1668 and based in Darmstadt, Germany, is a supplier of solutions and services for research, development, and manufacture of pharmaceutical and biotechnological drug therapies. The company serves the life science industry and has a broad portfolio of 300,000 products, including biopharmaceutical manufacturing, industrial microbiology, reagent, life science research, and water purification products. It is available in 66 countries, brings together six brands, and has several ISO certifications, including ISO 13485, ISO 14001, ISO 13485, and ISO 50001.
Seya Industries Ltd is a manufacturer of pigment, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and rubber chemicals intermediates that is located in Mumbai, India. The company crafts para nitro aniline, ortho nitro aniline, and mono chloro benzene. It also fabricates para di chloro benzene, ortho di chloro benzene, sulphuric acid, nitric acid, and para nitro chloro benzene. Its para nitro aniline can be used for dyes, basic pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and UV absorbers applications. Its mono chloro benzene only has a maximum of 0.02% of benzene impurities.
Columbus Chemical Industries, based in Columbus, Wisconsin, USA, is a manufacturer and distributor of specialty chemicals. The company offers chemical analysis, problem-solving skills, and chemical packaging and processing services for high-purity and ultra-pure chemical needs of several industries such as the pharmaceutical, semiconductor, and energy industry. Its product range include nitric acid, salts, and chemical solvents, which can be packaged in bottles, drums, or in high capacity totes. The company operates under an ISO 9001:2015 certified Quality Management System and is a member of the National Association of Chemical Distributors.
RX Chemicals was founded in Mumbai, India, in 2011. RX Chemicals sells chemical-based products for many sectors including automobile, agriculture, airline, detergents, drain cleaning products, electrical gear, floor care, fuel treatment, gasses, personal care, laundry chemicals, medicine, oil spill chemicals, and accessories, as well as tools. RX Chemicals also provides a range of services including chemical inspection, logistics, chemical usage supervision, as well as tank cleaning. The company sells to customers both in India and customers internationally.
Founded in 1981, Central Drug House Ltd. serves the scientific community via manufacturing and marketing a library of over 9,000 products to laboratory fine chemicals and dehydrated culture media with emphasis on purity and service. Examples are acids & bases, adsorbents, disinfectants, indicator papers, oils, and solvents. CDH provides bio chemicals, research chemicals, laboratory reagents, various solvents, stains & indicators, and dehydrated culture media. CDH is ISO 9001 certified and CDHs’ products are in compliance with specifications of IP, BP, USP, and EP standards.
Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | Hawkins, Inc. |
21.3%
|
2 | M. K. Industrial Corporation |
13.2%
|
3 | Seya Industries Ltd |
10.9%
|
4 | MilliporeSigma |
10.2%
|
5 | Northstar Chemical |
8.9%
|
6 | Columbus Chemical Industries |
8.1%
|
7 | Kishida Chemical Co.,Ltd. |
5.8%
|
8 | Junsei Chemical Co.,Ltd. |
5.6%
|
9 | RX Chemicals |
5.1%
|
10 | Gujarat State Fertilizers & Chemicals Limited |
4.8%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the nitric acid page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
India | 3 | 42.9% |
United States of America | 2 | 28.6% |
Japan | 2 | 28.6% |