Hydrochloric Acid
The Hydrochloric Acid supplied by Chelora Chemicals — a strong, non-oxidising mineral acid used across metal treatment, pH control and the oxychlorination route to vinyl chloride monomer — exported from Indonesia across standard concentration grades with full batch documentation on every shipment.
What Hydrochloric Acid is, and why buyers source it
A working overview of the acid's chemistry, why it is the default strong non-oxidising acid across so much of industry, and the grades Chelora Chemicals keeps in regular supply.
Hydrochloric Acid is a strong mineral acid formed by dissolving hydrogen chloride gas in water, valued across industry specifically because it is strongly acidic without also being an oxidiser, the way nitric acid or concentrated sulfuric acid can be — a distinction that makes it the acid of choice wherever a process needs strong acidity but cannot tolerate oxidative side reactions. It sits at the centre of steel pickling, pH control and neutralisation chemistry, and, closest to our own catalogue, as the recovered and recycled acid in the oxychlorination route used in vinyl chloride monomer manufacture.
At room temperature it is a colourless to pale yellow liquid that fumes in moist air at higher concentrations as dissolved hydrogen chloride gas escapes. It is supplied across 30%, 32% and 35% concentration grades, close to the practical ceiling for aqueous HCl at ordinary temperature and pressure, each suited to different downstream uses.
Where it fits in the value chain
Hydrochloric Acid's largest single use by volume is steel pickling, where it dissolves surface oxide scale ahead of galvanising or further processing. It is also essential to pH control and neutralisation across countless industrial processes, oil-well acidising, and, closest to our own catalogue, as the hydrogen chloride source recovered and recycled in the oxychlorination step of vinyl chloride monomer manufacture, where ethylene reacts with recycled HCl and oxygen to form the 1,2-dichloroethane that is cracked to VCM.
Grades we supply
Chelora Chemicals offers Hydrochloric Acid across 30%, 32% and 35% concentration grades in technical, food and electronic grades, with higher-purity grades available on request. Each grade is supplied with a batch-wise certificate of analysis covering concentration, iron content and colour.
How Hydrochloric Acid is produced
An overview of the production route for orientation purposes. Our manufacturing partners' own process parameters and in-process controls are proprietary and are not disclosed beyond what is needed to interpret the certificate of analysis.
Hydrochloric Acid is produced industrially mainly by absorbing hydrogen chloride gas into water. A significant share of that hydrogen chloride is itself a recovered by-product of other chlorination processes, most notably the oxychlorination and direct chlorination steps used in vinyl chloride monomer manufacture, where excess or by-product HCl is captured, purified and absorbed into water rather than produced from scratch. Hydrogen chloride is also made directly by burning hydrogen in chlorine (the synthesis gas route) for applications needing a very pure, by-product-free acid.
Whichever hydrogen chloride source is used, the gas is absorbed into water in a falling-film or packed-column absorber under controlled conditions, since the dissolution is exothermic and the equilibrium vapour pressure of HCl above the solution rises steeply as concentration approaches the practical ceiling for aqueous acid at ordinary temperature. Final concentration adjustment, iron and trace-metal quality control, and decolourisation where needed are carried out before packaging.
Industries and processes that use it
Hydrochloric Acid is consumed across steel pickling, pH control and neutralisation, and the vinyl chloride monomer supply chain. The fields below account for most of the demand we see through our export desk.
Steel Pickling & Metal Treatment
Dissolves surface oxide scale from steel ahead of galvanising or further processing, the single largest global use of hydrochloric acid by volume.
pH Control & Neutralisation
Used across water treatment, food processing and countless industrial processes to neutralise alkaline streams or hold a process at a target pH.
Oil-Well Acidising
Injected into oil and gas wells to dissolve carbonate rock and improve near-wellbore permeability.
Vinyl Chloride Monomer Oxychlorination
Recovered and recycled as the hydrogen chloride source in the oxychlorination step of vinyl chloride monomer manufacture, reacting with ethylene and oxygen to form 1,2-dichloroethane.
How the acid is typically used forward
The acid's strength, combined with its non-oxidising character, governs almost all of Hydrochloric Acid's further industrial use. The categories below account for most of the ways it is applied downstream.
Oxide Scale Dissolution (Pickling)
Dissolves iron oxide surface scale from hot-rolled steel, converting it to soluble iron chloride and leaving a clean metal surface ready for galvanising or coating.
Oxychlorination (VCM Route)
Recovered HCl is reacted catalytically with ethylene and oxygen to form 1,2-dichloroethane, which is subsequently cracked to vinyl chloride monomer, closing the chlorine loop in balanced VCM production.
Acid-Base Neutralisation
Used broadly to neutralise alkaline process streams and wastewater, and to adjust pH in water treatment and numerous manufacturing processes.
Carbonate Dissolution (Well Acidising)
Reacts with carbonate minerals in reservoir rock, dissolving them to open flow channels and improve oil and gas well productivity.
Hydrochloric Acid against related mineral acids we supply
Buyers sourcing Hydrochloric Acid sometimes also need a related mineral acid for a different step in the same process. A quick reference to what else is on our regular supply list.
| Product | CAS Number | Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hydrochloric Acid | 7647-01-0 | Mineral acid, non-oxidising | The product on this page — a strong, non-oxidising mineral acid used in pickling, neutralisation and the VCM oxychlorination route. |
| Nitric Acid | 7697-37-2 | Mineral acid, strong oxidiser | A related mineral acid with oxidising character this acid lacks, used in a very different set of processes — see its product page. |
| Sulfuric Acid | 7664-93-9 | Mineral acid | A related mineral acid frequently used alongside this one in metal treatment and process chemistry — see its product page. |
| Vinyl Chloride Monomer | 75-01-4 | Chlorinated monomer | The downstream product of the oxychlorination route this acid's recovered HCl feeds — see its product page. |
Exact concentration and purity specifications are confirmed per batch on the certificate of analysis — treat the notes above as a sourcing guide, not a specification sheet, for products other than Hydrochloric Acid.
Safety classification at a glance
Based on GHS classification as commonly listed for this substance. This is a summary for orientation only — always work from the current safety data sheet supplied with your specific batch.
Causes severe skin burns and eye damage.
May cause respiratory irritation.
Fumes in moist air at higher concentrations, releasing irritating hydrogen chloride gas.
Chemical-resistant gloves, face shield and acid-resistant clothing are required for routine handling.
Danger
This product causes severe skin burns and eye damage on contact and may cause respiratory irritation from fumed hydrogen chloride gas, particularly at higher concentrations or in poorly ventilated areas. Handling requires chemical-resistant gloves, a face shield, acid-resistant clothing and adequate ventilation or local exhaust where fuming is likely. Full first-aid, storage, spill and PPE guidance is in the MSDS issued with every shipment, and must be read in full before this material is handled.
Keeping it on spec between delivery and use
General storage guidance for this grade. Site-specific storage rules, segregation requirements and re-test intervals should follow your own EHS procedures and the MSDS issued with your batch.
Store in acid-resistant containers (typically rubber-lined steel or HDPE) in a dry, well-ventilated area, away from strong oxidisers, strong bases and most common structural metals, which it will corrode and generate hydrogen gas against over time. The acid itself does not degrade over time when properly sealed, though concentration should be re-checked on stock held for an extended period, since HCl gas can slowly escape from a poorly sealed container, diluting the remaining acid.
How it ships from Indonesia
Standard packing and export terms for this product. Confirm exact figures against your order — they vary slightly by destination and quantity.
What travels with every batch
Specification is agreed before the purchase order, not discovered on arrival. Every shipment of Hydrochloric Acid leaves with a documented, checkable paper trail.
Certificate of Analysis
Batch-wise assay, colour and key physical constants, issued against the agreed specification so your QC team can check it, not just file it.
Safety Data Sheet
GHS-format SDS in English covering hazard classification, handling, storage, first-aid and spill response for the exact grade shipped.
Technical Data Sheet
Reference physical and chemical properties, recommended storage and typical applications, for internal circulation to your process or R&D teams.
Certificate of Origin
Confirms Indonesian origin for customs clearance and any preferential-duty claim at your destination port.
Dangerous Goods Declaration
UN packing group, classification and shipper's declaration prepared ahead of loading so documentation never holds up customs.
Third-Party Inspection
Independent pre-shipment inspection and re-sampling can be arranged on request, at your cost, for buyers who require it as a matter of policy.
Frequently asked questions
What buyers most often ask our sales desk about this grade.
01What is Hydrochloric Acid used for?+
02How is Hydrochloric Acid produced?+
03What grades does Chelora Chemicals supply?+
04Is Hydrochloric Acid hazardous?+
05How does Hydrochloric Acid relate to vinyl chloride monomer manufacture?+
06Why is Hydrochloric Acid considered non-oxidising while Nitric Acid is an oxidiser?+
07What packing options are available?+
08How long does delivery take?+
09Can I get a sample before placing a bulk order?+
10Do you supply other mineral acids as well?+
Need Hydrochloric Acid on spec, on time?
Send us your required concentration, grade, quantity, packing preference and destination port. Our desk quotes most enquiries within one working day.