Sulfuric acid crisis? See how substance deficiency can affect the world

HE sulfuric acid It is one of the most used substances in the industry. It is involved in the production of food and even the manufacture of the cell phone or computer you are currently using.

But it may be the lack of this important food-interfering ingredient that threatens the advancement of technology in the years to come, according to research published in The Geographical Journal of the Royal Geographical Society.

In agriculture, sulfuric acid is used in the production of phosphate fertilizers. It is used in the cleaning of components such as semiconductors in its purest form in technology, and in the manufacture of detergents in the chemical industry.

Scarcity may result from an imbalance between growing demand for agriculture and technology, as well as the world reducing its use of fossil fuels in a time of decarbonisation.

Currently, the largest source of sulfur, which is the key ingredient for obtaining sulfuric acid, comes from oil and gas desulfurization, accounting for 80% of compound production.

However, thanks to the advancement of sustainable fuels and the so-called green technology, there will be a decrease in oil refining and a corresponding decrease in sulfur and sulfuric acid production.

It is estimated that the entire production chain, from detergents to batteries to technology and even agriculture, could be affected if alternatives to the use of sulfuric acid are not considered.

One of the alternatives cited could be increased sulfur mining, but the researchers predict that the environmental impacts will be enormous, causing more negative than positive impacts.

Scientists now need to consider alternatives to the use of sulfuric acid and consider alternatives for mining in a safer and less polluting way.