Hazmat through history – Sulfuric acid
By Daniel Hammel, North America Marketing Lead Chemical Industrial
After sulfuric acid was first discovered in the eighth century by alchemist Jabir ibn Hayyan, it was dubbed “oil of vitriol.” Vitriol is a sulfate of various metals, such as copper and iron. The newly discovered acid was produced by roasting iron vitriol in an iron retort. The ancient term “vitriol” lends itself to the literary term of the same name, meaning “bitterly harsh or caustic language or criticism.”
The use of sulfuric acid was limited in its early history. Advancements in the production of sulfuric acid helped make it more popular and expanded its use in various applications. In the 17th century, Johann Glauber heated a combination of sulfur and potassium nitrate with steam to produce sulfuric acid. At this time, sulfuric acid was mainly used as a cleaning agent. By the 18th century, John Roebuck developed the lead chamber process, which allowed sulfuric acid to be produced more easily and less expensively. Production increased in the 1760s as its usage as a fabric dye was popularized. Sulfuric acid could be used as both a bleaching agent and as a way to dissolve indigo to produce a blue dye. In 1831, Peregrine Phillips developed his patented contact process for producing sulfuric acid, which is still used today.
While there have been and continue to be many virtuous uses of sulfuric acid across the globe, some individuals with nefarious intentions have taken advantage of sulfuric acid’s properties. English serial killer John George Haigh murdered at least six people between 1944 and 1949. Not wanting to pay for his crimes and believing that the absence of bodies would clear him of any murder charges, Haigh dissolved his victims’ bodies in vats of concentrated sulfuric acid. This earned Haigh the nickname the “Acid Bath Murderer.” Haigh’s plan didn’t work. A jury convicted him of the six murders, and he was executed by hanging in 1949.
Today, sulfuric acid is one of the most commonly used chemicals in the world. Sulfuric acid is used to produce a vast array of products. It is most commonly used in the production of fertilizers, but it is also used to produce pharmaceuticals, detergents, pigments, fabrics and paper, to name a few. It remains such an important commodity that a nation’s production of sulfuric acid is used as an indicator of that nation’s industrial strength.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises that exposure to sulfuric acid can be destructive to the skin, eyes, lungs and teeth. Severe exposure can even result in death. For DuPont Personal Protection solutions that provide protection against sulfuric acid, please visit SafeSPEC™.