The chief seats of the industry in this country are Newcastle, Birmingham, Bristol, Lancashire, Glasgow, London, Edinburgh, and in a minor degree the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, Hants, Devon, &o. On the Continent are many large works in Belgium, France, and Germany, and even Mexico, Finland, and Japan are not behind the rest of the world in this respect.
The principal product in all cases is the ordinary English acid. In fact, the other two varieties form but an infinitesimal part of the manufactured article, probably not one-thousandth part of the total production.
The manufacture is of comparatively recent date, it being scarcely a century since the first works were erected in this country. Yet it now stands at the head of our chemical industry, and is increasing every day in extent and importance.
The expensive nature of the plant of a sulphuric acid works, as at present constructed, neces sitates the possession of considerable capital for embarking in the business, and as a consequence it is in comparatively few bands. The amount of money invested in the manufacture in this country alone is probably not leas than five millions sterling.
No tax, duty, nor impost of any kind is levied on the manufacture, and no restriction is imposed by the LeLdslature, save the provisions of the Alkali Act prohibiting the creation of a nuisance. Practically this Act has none but a beneficial effect upon the trade, as it compels manufacturers to adopt economical measures for the prevention of the escape and consequent waste of those gases which alone create a nuisance.
The commercial value of the manufactured article varies according to its specific gravity, which is synonymous with its strength. Acid at about sp. gr. (14:3' Tw.), commonly known as
" brown acid" (B. A.), or as " brown oil of vitriol " (B. O. V.), is generally quoted at about id. per lb. or 71. per ton, and that at 1.850 sp. gr. (170° Tw.), called "white" or "rectified oil of vitriol " (O. V.), stands usually at ld. per lb. or 91. 6s. 8d. per ton. In each case a discount is remitted, fluctuating with the market prices of the raw commodities, and with the scale of the transaction, but seldom less than 30 per cent.
The price is also affected by the colour of the acid as well as by its purity. Acid male from brimstone, and containing no arsenic or other foreign deleterious matter, is worth more than "pyrites acid," which always has a certain proportion of arsenic, besides iron, selenium, and other contaminating matter.
MARKETS.—The two great markets for sulphuric acid are the manufacture of alkali and of artificial manures. In almost every instance the sulphuric acid manufacturer combines one or both of the other industries with the primary one. That which is sold as sulphuric acid goes to the smaller manure manufacturers, to gasworks, sugar refineries, mineral water factories, dyers and printers, gun-cotton, &c. makers, electro-platers, &c., &c.
India and China consume a large quantity of the concentrated acid, which is transported thither very conveniently in stoneware jars. The transport in this country is commonly conducted in large glass bottles, known as " carboys," packed with straw in well-tarred hoop-iron or withy baskets.