68% Nitric Acid: Properties, Applications and Safety Instructions

Core Features

68% nitric acid possesses balanced corrosivity and oxidizability, which makes it the most widely used nitric acid concentration grade for industrial scenarios.

Main Application Fields

1. Chemical Fertilizers & Basic Chemicals (Largest consumption scenario)

•          Produce nitrogen-based and water-soluble fertilizers: ammonium nitrate, calcium nitrate, potassium nitrate

•          Synthesize nitrochemical raw materials: nitrobenzene, nitrotoluene, adipic acid, terephthalic acid

•          Manufacture oxalic acid and multiple nitrate salts (sodium nitrate, magnesium nitrate, nickel nitrate)

•          Conduct nitration reactions for polyurethane, nylon, dyes and pharmaceutical intermediates

2. Metallurgy & Metal Processing

•          Stainless steel pickling (plates, pipes, castings): remove oxide scale and complete surface passivation (normally blended with hydrofluoric acid)

•          Derusting and brightening for carbon steel and alloy steel

•          Polishing and degreasing for non-ferrous metals (copper, aluminum, nickel)

•          Precious metal purification (gold, platinum, palladium) for impurity separation

•          Blackening and anti-corrosion passivation for steel products

3. Electronics, PCB & Photovoltaic Industry (High-purity grade only)

•          PCB etching and copper foil surface cleaning

•          Semiconductor wafer cleaning to remove metallic impurities and oxide layers

•          Photovoltaic silicon wafer texturing and surface cleaning

•          Coating stripping and cleaning for lithium batteries and electronic components

4. National Defense, Explosives & Fireworks

•          Raw material for nitro-explosives: nitrocellulose, TNT, ammonium nitrate explosive

•          Prepare oxidizing nitrates for fireworks and pyrotechnic products

•          Synthesize missile and explosive propellant raw materials

5. Water Treatment & Environmental Protection

•          Oxidative treatment of industrial wastewater: decompose organic pollutants and cyanides

•          Circulating cooling water and boiler water conditioning; pipeline anti-corrosion passivation

•          Produce nitrate reagents for flue gas denitrification

6. Laboratory & Light Industrial Use

•          General strong acid reagent for laboratory use; sample digestion for elemental ore and metal analysis

•          Glass and optical lens polishing & etching

•          Leather tanning and degreasing

•          Chemical corrosion engraving for metal nameplates

Grade Classification by Concentration

•          <60% (Dilute Nitric Acid): Dominantly for chemical fertilizer production

•          68% Nitric Acid: Most versatile grade; for metal pickling, chemical synthesis and electronic manufacturing

•          >95% (Concentrated Nitric Acid): Mainly for nitration reaction, national defense industry and organic synthesis

Safety Reminder

68% nitric acid is a Class 5.1 Oxidizing Substance & Class 8 Corrosive Hazardous Chemical. Do not store or mix it with organic substances, reducing agents or metal powders; their contact will generate toxic nitrogen oxide fumes.