DESIGN FOR THE PRODUCTION

OF AMMONIUM NITRATE

Submitted by,
Lokeshwaran.K (2016303521)
Manikandan.S (2016303525)
 INTRODUCTION

• Ammonium nitrate is used extensively as a nitrogenous fertilizer.

• It is made exclusively by the reaction between gaseous ammonia and aqueous nitric acid.
• The compound does not occur in nature because it is so soluble that it is washed out of the soil by rain and
surface water.
• Ammonium nitrate is stable at lower temperatures, but tends to decompose explosively when heated to
temperatures above 200°C (390°F).
• The final solid fertilizer product may leave the production site either as loose bulk or in a variety of pack
sizes
 HISTORY

• Ammonium nitrate (uh-MOH-ni-um NYE-trate) is a white crystalline substance first made

artificially in 1659 by the German chemist Johann Rudolf Glauber (1604–1670).
• Glauber named the compound he discovered in 1659 nitrum flammans, Latin for "flaming nitre." He
chose the name because of the compound's tendency to explode when exposed to heat.
• An ammonium nitrate explosion in Texas City, Texas, on April 16, 1947, was responsible for the
worst industrial accident in U.S. history.
• Two American men, Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols, used a truckload of ammonium nitrate
and other materials to blow up the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma,
on April 19, 1995.
• In 2004, it ranked fourteenth among all chemicals manufactured in the United States. Just over six
million metric tons (6.6 million short tons) of the compound were produced in 2004.
 PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

• Chemical Formula NH4NO3

• Molecular Weight 80.043 grams per mole
• Density 1.725 grams per cubic centimetre
• Melting Point 442.8K (169.6 oC)
• Boiling Point Decomposes at 483K (210 oC)
• Ammonium nitrate is a crystalline solid having a white/grey colour.
• It has a trigonal crystal structure.
• It is quite soluble in water; its solubility at 20 oC is 150g/100ml.
• The solubility increases to 1024g/100ml when the temperature is raised to 100 oC
• The dissolution of NH4NO3 in H2O is highly endothermic.
• This compound has very low shock and friction sensitivities
 CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

• When NH4NO3 is reacted with the hydroxides of alkali metals, the nitrates of alkali metals are
formed along with ammonia.
• Upon heating, this compound decomposes to form nitrous oxide (N2O) and water.
• When exploded, this compound yields N2, O2, and water as the byproducts.
• Despite being a component of many explosives, ammonium nitrate is not an explosive by itself. It
must be mixed with a primary explosive such as an azide to form an explosive mixture
 METHODS FOR PRODUCTION
• Vaccum Flash process
• The UCB process
• The Stamicarbon process
• The NSM/Norsk Hydro pressure process
 Analysis of the process

Process Yield of AN Cost of production Pressure required Other issues

solution to maintain

Vaccum process 90 % Moderate 18-20 Kpa High temperature

requires
additional safety
issues.
UCB process 95 % Moderate 0.5 Mpa Maintaining pH for
better yield is
difficult.
Stamicarbon 98-99.5% Low 0.4 Mpa Comparitively
process safe process

NSM/Norsk Hydro 98% High due to special 0.5 Mpa Vaccum

process vaccum evaporator handlingis
difficult
Flow diagram for production of AN
 Flowsheet of the Selected process

A-Neutralizer B-Surplus steam condense C-Condenser D-Ammonia scrubber E-Intermediate tank

F-Dilute ammonia solution tank G-Evaporator H-Separator I-Prilling tower J-Rotary Dryer

K-Screen L-Crusher M-Storage tank N-Cooler

 Applications

• NH4NO3 is a key component of many fertilizers since it is quite rich in nitrogen (34%).
• The dissolution of this compound in water is quite endothermic, making it an ideal choice of
material in instant cold packs.
• It is also used in the mining and construction industry as a component of explosives.
• In fireworks, where it provides the oxygen needed to ignite other chemicals.
• In the manufacture of nitrous oxide (N2O), commonly known as laughing gas.
• In rocket engines, where it provides oxygen needed to burn the rocket fuel.
• In the manufacture of safety matches, where the compound supplies oxygen to substances that
catch fire when the match is struck.
• As a nutrient in commercial processing for growing yeasts and antibiotics.
Global consumption of AN