3 replies to this topic

[Qzymandias]

So, Ammonia.
It's not burned in the flare, apparantly, since ammonia is a finiky gas when it comes to being ignited.
As a result, I understand it's usually just vented to atmosphere.
This leads me to a question that I'm sure countless engineers have asked before: is there any wat to harvest this ammonia for anything?
Hypothetically if you're sending, idk, 1'000+ ton's a year of the stuff to the atmosphere, isn't there something more useful you can do with it?
Anyways, If anyone knows what a possible use could be, or could point me in the right direction of just why the stuff is so useless, I'd really appreciate it.
Thanks all,

-Ozy

[kkala]

-Ammonia can be burnt in specific flare, rather being an incinerator; see http://www.cheresour...h__1#entry53390.
-On the other hand, catalytic "burning" of NH3 (g) is the first step of nitric acid production
-Fugitive emissions from valves and pipes handling ammonia are quite restricted, since NH3 gas is harmful to man even in low concentrations.
However dispersed NH3 into nature will undergo nitrification, it does not remain intact (e.g. PCB). See http://en.wikipedia..../Nitrogen_cycle & http://www.google.gr...iw=1035&bih=665.

[Qzymandias]

Thanks for the info kkala,
The search continues.

Ozy

[kkala]

NH3 is a useful compound as a raw material for fertilizers, e.g. (NH4)2SO4, NH4NO3, urea (NH2CONH2), and complex phosphoric fertilizers. NH3 (g) escaping into stack gases during production of (complex) fertilizers is almost completely caught by liquid treating systems (gas spray towers, columns, scrubbers) and reused as fertilizer. These gases are usually mixed with air and "pushed" to stack by rather strong fans. Their liquid treatment could be an alternative to (rather expensive) NH3 flaring, besides useful products are created. But this treatment has not been met in refineries.
Wet treatment of gas containing NH3 & hydrocarbons might be inappropriate, flaring after it would be more difficult.

Edited by kkala, 01 December 2011 - 11:14 AM.