What does industrial chemicals include?

Useful definitions for a management system for industrial chemicals

Chemical or Substance means chemical elements and their compounds in the natural state or obtained by any production process, including any additive necessary to preserve the stability of the product and any impurities deriving from the process used, but excluding any solvent which may be separated without affecting the stability of the substance or changing its composition.

Mixture means a mixture or a solution composed of two or more chemicals /substances in which they do not react. The term preparation is synonymous to mixture.

Chemical product/product[1] 

A chemical substance and/or mixture of chemical substances with certain percentages or percentage ranges of the chemical substances.

Article means an object which during production is given a special shape, surface or design, which determines its function to a greater degree than does its chemical composition. Examples of articles are a car, battery, computer, telephone, printer, clothes, and refrigerator. Articles can contain liquids (e.g. car: brake fluid) and gases (e.g. refrigerator: compressed cooling gas).

Industrial chemicals include all chemicals produced and used throughout their life cycle as a chemical, in a mixture or in an article excluding agricultural chemicals and chemicals and chemical products that are regulated by a domestic food or pharmaceutical authority or arrangement.

Agricultural chemicals are used in crop and food production including pesticide, feed additive, veterinary drug and related compounds.

Management system for industrial chemicals means a national system that addresses the management of environmental, economic, social, health and labor aspects of industrial chemicals safety, with a view to promoting sustainable development and covering industrial chemicals at all stages of their life-cycle, including in mixtures and articles. The management system consists of a framework for the management of industrial chemicals as well as the sector- specific management systems (e.g. occupational health and safety) which also apply to industrial chemicals.

Sector-specific management systems are management systems in specific sectors like environment protection, worker safety, consumer safety, waste safety, transport, storage and export/import, which also apply to industrial chemicals.

Management scheme for industrial chemicals means a module in the IOMC Toolbox that supports the development of a framework for the management of industrial chemicals to complement the existing sector specific management systems, adapted as appropriate, to achieve a comprehensive management system for industrial chemicals.

Core framework means a framework for the management of industrial chemicals (see background paper 1) consisting of key elements with technical content (technical key elements) and key elements relevant for the functioning of the system (functional key elements).

Key elements are the elements of a functioning framework for the management of industrial chemicals with a minimum number of elements with technical content and a minimum number of elements relevant for the functioning of the system.

Additional elements are more sophisticated elements of a framework to collect information and to do risk management, training and education and go beyond the elements of a core framework.

High priority chemicals mean industrial chemicals that are banned or restricted, listed in the Stockholm, Rotterdam Convention, Minamata Convention or Montreal Protocol or other industrial chemicals that are identified be very problematic in a country.

Other relevant definitions[2] :

Chemicals in quantities not likely to affect human health or the environment provided they are used for the purpose of research or analysis (see definition Rotterdam Convention)

Use (industrial, public/consumer), Intended Use

Producer, Supplier, Distributor, User, Importer, Exporter

Qualified user/distributor/supplier (eg. what qualifications are needed to handle the chemical)

Pictogram, Symbol, Label, Hazard, Package

Risk, Risk assessment, Risk management

Active substance, Official laboratory (Accredited Laboratory)

[1] The term product is sometimes used to refer to chemicals, mixtures and articles

[2]  see for example: Guidance on the Development of Legal and Institutional Infrastructures for Sound Management of Chemicals and Measures for Recovering Costs of National Administration (LIRA-Guidance), Test version, UNEP Chemicals 2012 http://www.unep.org/hazardoussubstances/UNEPsWork/Mainstreaming/UNEPLIRAGuidance/tabid/79269/Default.aspx

There are thousands of industrial chemicals. Some are used to make consumer goods, others to create energy, and some are even used in the production of other industrial chemicals. Which chemicals are most important for industrial manufacturing on a global scale?

Sulfuric Acid (H2SO4)

Sulfuric acid is the most commonly-produced industrial chemical in the world. Its primary industrial use is to make phosphoric acid which is a main ingredient in most chemical fertilizers. Sulfuric acid is a critical component for metal manufacturing, particularly in the production of copper and zinc as well as the cleaning of steel. Sulfuric acid output grows over 3% a year and is driven in large part by demand from the Asia-Pacific region.

Ethylene (C2H4)

Over 150 million tons of ethylene is produced every year, more than any other organic compound. Its demand can be attributed in large part to advancements in polymer production, particularly polyethylenes. It can also be used to make other industrial chemicals such as ethanol. How is ethylene produced? Usually via steam cracking of crude oil resulting from a process commonly known as “fracking.”

Sodium Hydroxide (NAOH)

Sodium Hydroxide is an inorganic compound vital to many industries. It’s used for industrial applications ranging from paper production to textile development to cleaning agent manufacturing; over 70,000,000 tons are produced each year. It is typically derived as a co-product during the manufacture of chlorine. Its popularity rests largely on its inexpensiveness and its ability to “scrub” gases to effectively remove acids during burning.

Propylene (C3H6)

Also known as propene and/or methyl ethylene, propylene is an organic gas compound. It’s a natural byproduct of the fermentation process, making it an important chemical compound for the advancement of the green chemistry sector. Conversely, it is also produced from fossil fuels. Propene is hugely significant to the petrochemical industry and as a raw material for a variety of products. Over 85,000,000 tons of it are produced globally each year, primarily as fuel or for rubber/plastic production.

Nitrogen (N2)

Hundreds of millions of tons nitrogen gas are produced each year. When combined with hydrogen, nitrogen produces ammonia, itself a crucial industrial chemical. Nitrogen is used for an array of products including fertilizers, fabrics, dyes, and even explosives. As a gas, it also creates an “unreactive atmosphere,” and thus is useful for preserving foods and in the sterile electronics industry. In liquid form, nitrogen is important for medical research and preservation. Nitrogen is usually produced using a process called fractional distillation.

Noah Chemicals isn’t just a distributor of high-purity industrial chemicals, we’re a producer. We work with hundreds of clients each year to fulfill special requests, and even to troubleshoot specific situations. If you need an industrial chemical, our chemists can help.

Contact us today to find out more.