Calcium carbide through a controlled reaction with water is converted to acetylene. This is done in a special apparatus called generator. Acetylene with a formula of C2H2 is a very useful hydrocarbon due to the energy locked up in the triple-bond between the carbon atoms. The energy is then released and applied by our customers in a variety of industrial purposes.
Acetylene in used in welding. This is considered the most known use of acetylene; but, there are other important chemicals derived from acetylene.

Acetylene is produced by the reaction of carbide with water. A by-product of this reaction is hydroxide which is considered a useful chemical. By having a pH of 12.4, acetylene can react with sulfur very easily. This could be used for acid neutralization, pH modification of soil and also for the sulfur cleaning caused by industrial processes and power generators.

The reaction of calcium carbide with water produces acetylene gas. This gas which is the smallest member of the alchelynes with a formula of C2H2, the two carbon atoms are connected by three bonds, thus considered a non-saturated compound. The calcium carbide as a processed material could be used directly. The characteristics of triple bond of carbon in acetylene molecule, provides a variety of uses of this product.

Acetylene derivatives are used in variety of everyday consumer products, including hair spray, cosmetics, tableted drugs, sunscreen lotions, antiseptics, and tar control toothpastes. In addition, acetylene is used for the production of polyurethane fibers, synthetic rubber, perchloroethylene (a widely used dry cleaning solvent), trichloroethylene (a degreasing solvent used in metal working processes), and a new type of refrigerant gas which is designed to replace the environmentally damaging chlorinated fluorocarbons (CFS).

One of the most common applications of acetylene is in cutting and welding works. Once the acetylene gas is mixed with oxygen, a flame with a temperature of up to 6000 deg. Fahrenheit is produced. This is considered the hottest hydro carbon gas. This flame is used for cutting metals. The imperfection of the joint surfaces is cleaned by warming them; therefore, a very clean and tough bond is produced in the joints. The acetylene gas is lighter than air. This characteristic makes it a very safe medium to be used in closed areas. The carbide industry provides the required calcium carbide for a variety of applications in different industries.

Other products produced along with the production process of acetylene, such as calcium hydroxide having many industrial applications. The most common application of this gas is the cleaning of a fossil-fueled power plants’ smoke stacks. This is done by removing the sulfur from the sulfur compounds before being released. In addition, calcium hydroxide is used for acidic wastes in the steel plants. This product is used for neutralization of chemical wastes and left over’s. The swage wastes are purified.
Calcium hydroxide could be spread or sprayed easily. Thus the farmers could neutralize the acid rains by spreading calcium hydroxide throughout the farm. In the mines, also, this product is used neutralizing the waste water.
Calcium hydroxide could be mixed with soil to produce a very hard and strong concrete. The soil stabilization reaction is used in the road construction industry as it forms a very stable sub-terrain (road-bed) surface.