Ostwald process
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Ostwald process
[′ȯst‚vält ‚prä·səs] (chemical engineering)
An industrial preparation of nitric acid by the oxidation of ammonia; the oxidation takes place in successive stages to nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, and nitric acid; a catalyst of platinum gauze is used and high temperatures are needed.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.