Sulfuric acid is used in the manufacture of paper and aluminum sulfate, and is used extensively for water purification. The petroleum industry uses sulfuric acid in the alkylation process and in the refining of petroleum distillates for removal of sulfur and gum-formingcompounds. Other important industrial applications consuming large amounts of sulfuric acid include steel pickling and the manufacture of titanium pigments, rayon, dyes, intermediates, and detergents.