‘greenhouse gases ike the ammonia used to ‘make trite acid NA) con tines to be produced by a ress nearly @ contury Ob — he Ostwald process. Although ‘he basic chemi has not changed ‘over the lst carry, the process technology eatary has. On the one hand, NA cence providers continue 10 tnd ways 10 prove the energy eficency ad yds, 2s wol 3s make the production plant mere rele, (On the oer hand, catahst rove: {a contin to Frerov tha compos tin anc aructue of th cates (0 boost yl, whe reducing he forma: ten of harms byproducts. And mere recent, erghesring companies and Calayst' manufacturers have com sions rom NA pants, ‘Applications of HNOs Nine ack ese for & lage num ber of appeations, but to maorty Of he acid suse ir making fel fs ges 1 and 2) Around 80% of the NA produced global used fr rmakog mmonium nate, wich is tha secon largest rarogen frtizor aftr rea, ays Mak van Denderon, had of market, Stamicarbon BN. (Sita, the Nethetands: wn. Ssarioarbon com), Abo 75% f the fanmeniam nla produced is used invrizere, andthe res for makrg fexploives that ere ued the mi ing nur, ho say, “Te demand or plants that produce 60 we NA for fertlzr marufacte remains strong, says Michael Grows, head of ts acd at ryssorrupe Inout! Solsons AG (Essen, Go many, wwwtryssenkupp-na.stia Solaons.com). An revesshg rst in higher concentrations. — typically (8 Wi — has, however abo boon coserved, ha says. TAS 68 Wi ‘he maxim concervaton possible P” Newstront Nitric Acid in the Spotlight Efforts continue to make nitric-acid production more efficient with lower emissions of to prods vi the “conerdonal staid proces, sss Groves, and Atyscenkeupp as 2 patented pro (eee for make {his amotope ‘oneentaion a ‘eraten ofthe Os ‘ald process ‘hat provers the ‘concerted 689% HNO. emerging ‘rom ‘the. abser ton toner fom bang tes by high Tova of water vapor in the ato eh a ued inthe pln, he say, On te par of some eta com fexplans Grows: 6 tng plants ‘erent conc fualy— 60% for erie manu: factre and a higher concentration typlcly 68%, for argon. itaion 10 prodvce, utimata. pojuretane foams and oer proavets. For many appicatons, such as the production of explosives, pg ments and rcket ful, higher con entation ae required, says Edgar Stotn, had of marketing, OVF, Do Distich Process Systems. Gmbi, Mainz, Gammary; win decistich, com). De Dietrich supples pants thet achieve 09.8% HNO concen raton using. reactive. retest wn sure ai, Plants fo these (G¥F procesass are Bult ih ghy conosonesistant components (eolurn, packing and piping) made from QvF borosilicate gass 8.3 and ep Dietion gassed sto. More recently wo are sosng a do mand fr pure, high-concertratod fle acd forthe se7-conductr ‘sty, saye Sef. "They require & ‘maximum metal contnt offs than pat per billon ppb), and even ov tos than Otppb"he says. Ammonia oxidation Large-scale NA’ production is stil perlrmed using the Ostwald pro eee (Figure 3}, whereby NH is frst ‘riszed wih ae Over @ plata atayst at temperatres of around 00°C, NH, combustion forms cx ‘dee of nitrogen (NOx: Reactions (1) fd I, nfich then absorbed in ‘Water to farm HNO, Reaction ANH +50; 4NO+6H-O (1) 2NO + Op» 2NO» @ aN; + H,0-> 2HNO,+NO How these thee stops (all exo thamic) ae pertormed the bass of today's diferent NA. production Froceseae. Thaso posses can be broady catogozed. 3s, monc- pressure in wien combustion and Sbeorptin take place at the same prstre fypicaly 4-6 bars) or dual pressure, which combuston oc- ure at lower pressize 4-6 bers) than tet of absorption (10-14 ba) “he enlaion reaction f more favor able at lower prosaure, whereasNewsfront Nitric Acid in the Spotlight Efforts continue to make nitric-acid production more efficient with lower emissions of ‘greenhouse gases ike the ammeria used to make ite aod (NA) om thes to be produced by a oat cont od — the Ostwald process. hough the basic cars has nt changed ver tho last century, the process technology eran has. On the one hand, NA Teenoe providors cornu to fd ways to morove the energy ficincy and yds, 2s wall as make {he producton plant more reable (On the other hand, catayst provi ‘3 contne to mprove the compos tion and sructr of tht cataysts to ‘boost yl while edcng the forme- tion of harm byproducts. And more recent, enginooting compares and Calayst manulactues have ‘com she fom NA pars ‘Applications of HNO, Nite ace used for & large num ber of appeations, but the maorty (ofthe ai sus ie making tert fr gues 1 ard 2 Around 80% of the NA produced globally is used for making ammonium nirete, which is the sacond-lrgost nitrogen free afr ura, says Mark van Dendoren, hoad of marketing, Slamcarbon BL (Star, he Neherands; wa, staricarbon com), Abu 75% oh “ammonium nivat produced is eed Br erilaer, and the rest for making ‘plosives tat are used i the mer Ing industry, he say, “the demand pants that produce (60.96 NA er fete manefactxo remain strong, says Michal Groves, oad of rite acd at Pysoererupe Industial Soutons AG (Essen, Ger any, wowtysooeupp inci fsoldons.com) An ineasng risrst in higher concentrators — tpcaly 65 wi. — has, however ao boa sored, he 85s. Te 68 we Is the maamum concentration possible to produce va the “comerdona Oswaipreces, sae Groves, and tryesenkrune has a patented ro ase. formating tis szeoronc ‘conection = a ‘aration of he Os wad process, — that provonts tho ‘concrtated £695 HNO, emerging ‘rom ‘the abso tion tomar ram boing luted by igh lovle of waier vapor nthe atmo: spheric ar used the plant he sys. "On the part of some fries com Shorsicaton” explains Groves: ther fornew pints oF fr revamping ‘exiting plas tobe abe to proce ‘rer concentrations. simutane fous — 60% for fertizor manu facture and a higher concentration, typicaly 68%, for organ tation to produce, timate, patrethane foams and oer proakcts For many agplcatons, euch as the production ‘of exlocies, ig ments and rocket fel, higher con ‘centrations ars required, says Edgar ‘Stein, head of marketing, GVF, Ds Ditch ‘Process Systems GrbH, Mare, Germany; wwn.deditren om). De Detich supples pnts that achieve 09.8% HNO, concen ‘waton using reacthe rectileation wih ‘suture ad. Plants for these ‘GVF processes are but with high comosionvesistant components (columns, packing and piping) made from QVE borsiiate giass 3.3 and De Dietrion gase-Ined sta. More recery we are secing ae mand for puro, igh concarated Ifo acd forthe sem-concuctr stn, says Sten. “They equi & ‘maximum metal cortent ofa than 1 part per bllon (ppb). and ven own toss than 0. ppt he sa. Ammonia oxidation Large-seale NA’ production stil perormed using the Ostwald ro (eso Fgwe 3), herby Ney fat ‘oxczed wih ‘ak over a flalnum Ccatast ot temperatures of curd ‘900°C. NH, comouston foe Ox Ides of nitrogen INOx; Reactions (1) and GI, ufich is then absorbac ‘water to form HNO [Reaction (i) ANH, +50 4NO46H.O 1) 2NO +0;-+2NOp 2 ND, +H,0-+2HNO,+NO How these thee steps (al exo thormic) are pertomed i the oases of todays difownt NA production Processes. These processes can be broady categorized 3s rrono- Pressure, n wich combustion and ecrplcn take place at to same pressure ypealy 4-6 bars) ord pressure, in which combustor oc urs at lower pressure (4-6 rs) {hen that of abscrpon (10-14 ar), ‘The oxdaton reaction fs mre favor ble at loner pressures, wheas bsortion s more efit a higher pressure, explains Paz Muna, afro foes engineer at Stamioabon, De Ceding between the two processes § a adeot batwoon captal exon itures (caper, and operating costs (opex}, whic are relate to the costs of feedstock, utes and enero, ‘ys Stanicabon van Dendere. Dual-pressure processes ‘he giver rand today for bigger Plants, and companies are look ose) atthe total cost of anes, Saye van Dandoren. “That maans fitnoy [ofthe NA pei is very pertant” Dual pressure techeology 'S eapecialy compete for produc tion eapactes of 500-600 matic tons er day (n.t/d) and uowards, he saye, With ts n mind, Stamicar on nas revtaized ts uk pease ‘womncogy, he say. Mune ‘ill fraduca Staricar bons newest us pressure process at the. Ammonium Nite. — Ne the Aad Producers Group (AN-NA) conference (October 1-8; Aust, ‘ex), wih & presentation etited "An ‘improved ual-ressuro ne seks pranaes uth mavimum sey Fecoten,” The company docined 1 ‘veal ary deals advance, but van Dendeten says that "he eneray fcency of our desen is urbeatabl ast year, Weatherly In. a whaly med Subsidiary oF KER rc. Hous ton; warwkbcom) als introduoed 2 new dual pressure technelogy for rockon NA ata large sae KER Woahtys dua prosaue process fr more setts, 958 Chem. Erg. October 2016, p. 8) 6 ad 10 aver loner operating costs with is mare ficson heat eoovery desi Talgss exts the system at 620% ‘compared to the lwo (490°) te: Bersue of allerathe processos. {Tn enables mero oft recovery of heat that subsequent used to ‘generat orgy to powor up the =~ tom. Asa road, the new process OF fersan opwatng cost achartage ver competing tecmnaogis of S4-s/an GINA produced, say the company “Over the past 20 year, about a ‘quater toa tid ofthe plants (but by tysenkrupp have been mono pressure, but the tend is ton ‘al pressure plans says thysean RE, Wri a nr pens, an eb Ba ent ‘oupp’ Groves, “For smal plants {upto round 800 ma} wo woud sill conser mono-pressuade- Sign." say. The prosont syle of dua pressure pant wih a seve-rajed Sbeorbar tras taducedin the 19708, Groves S98. "OF course, thee have been ‘Ammonia oxidation catalysts ‘The, oxdaton cates cally ‘gauze composed of platinum grou metas (PGMS), Over the dacades, ‘he gauze has boon refrod and opt rized, For example, Heroaus GetbH (Hanau, "Gormany: wonheraa.s om) fist began Supping Pere (aus for Ny onda recent, Heranus alo introduced & ‘secondary cata! that recess NzO ‘eanisions by upto 95%. ‘ohrson Matthey ple UM; Lon fon, UK wor matney.com) a fers a varity of Prbssed gauzes with unique producto and kniteg pattems. For exampio, is Eco-Cat ‘voled mannertorepace somecttne Plin the gauze. Expotng Its metal recovery proper, the Pd catchos lost PY without compromaing the [Nes conversion. This increases the ‘gaube perormance and ges asus {hinabio and efisnt system for NA rodcton, says he company. bh 2014, the Planum Ergneored Sine a ates = Ere) coer wood te Pr = Sie wan amt: ene Cos) ryote pamela ‘oaoy espay re no ‘supplies gawes wit ape ‘pry Bem crates gear an 8 en ihe tot. Hoe ale fs Intoduoed ts FTC = eee (functional total contrat) steaenbes |= " (auzes designed 10 10-gg nrh ue a N,O emissions by 50%. er Nowaconbuclen oy (snes) —— poate ea geet fos 9 oe ee obalwarming potertal ORES na pn a ste td (Give that is 265 tes Fen unarmeer one bay eo Higher than CO_) More fe adAGLOBAL INITIATIVE TO REDUCE N,0 EMISSIONS. peat 25 Gran ators ty ena Renee Coenen Ulan on Noa St (EMU. Bo, [Geary waco easehes he Nie Ral Cae A en uip tCAG Ber Garena ow ea {Sease ght ater NO onodore om so pos {Shy 220 Ta aha ots gemmon nart ar ‘asses Matfals divsion of Unico AG & Co.KG (Hara Wotana, Gomary. ‘wiv pomusricors.com) oduced ‘now guise goreraton fr satay Neigondaion. Compareatothacer any’ established MS syst, the ‘et Mut Combination Gauze Pack (MPAC) ocrrobgy is cla to alow a larger number of combinations, do signs and functonalles of gauzes, ‘rcung sepeators gots, athe ‘latnum gauze fof By soectng {he rout combinaton of gazes for ‘2 gen applet, tho new cast ‘yston sad to improve product Yd wth a lower woop of PGMS 2rd rece NO oman. Iraperoprato operon ofthe NOx abatement system, he 53. Reducing emissions NOs abatement ad NO abate “inal pars ofthe word, we ae soo fog an rovoased emphasis on lover NOx and NO emisoone," ss By sanisupo's Groves (668 box above. “The company oles two variants fs EnyNOx process, bah of which re ce faigas NO emissions to below 50 ppm, while aso reducing NOx ferissons, ‘Since the process Was {ist commocalzed in 2008 (Chom Eng, Nowerber 2002, . 19, hero ‘3 Now sour 30 EnNOx stars ‘operation acand he wor Now thatthe Issue of NOx and hanced catalysts For example, NzO emissions in steady continu: ‘8 operation has to all itants anc Burpsen been sohed wie En the problem of arsint emissions ot [NOx al plant statup and shutdown, faye Groves. Such emissions ars troublesome, especialy for plants lceated in populated areas, due at least in part 16 the unsighty own ‘ma of NOx oontaning gas etn fhe plant stack. The company’s row Performing. ongoing development ‘work aimed at eduing such emis- ‘Sons sal without, for example, the "ak of foing amricnm iat by ‘ment are now a requiement_ on Paty al now plants (eran within the US. and Eyop9), Bojd, drector of Operations, KER Weatherly. Curent emissions stan dards ith US. requeng greater than 96% removal OF NOK and NO, he says. Catt ‘merufacturer ao answer thecal forthe ower emission its with 6 Clarant AG Munich Gamay wii laant.comn) has ‘been developing NO. absterent ne arr 40-60 syn DRE ada twin Nom Amer oneal bauer cto ea ptt c= ‘Snveques alsin hts eegy ae Thee eh ‘oun re arnt ction mo ae so (Sore stachie oeien Tre eons oexnoy cnc ‘tana tt ey one ering om oer get orang ‘roe tor eons warp, sneha ‘stort arora om M0 mer arabe sce iy eed aruba oars sya cre "Near aerate ati rrton caren. Sma “Gere mon wea won sore Fmt ak ‘rt garters goer around ho wr a {instrenal singers sive Vee a eng ‘ies wd tarot NACA sce ae ‘Stent oor tn pte ha aye Fr ro roe twohnologies for over a decade. The Company colaborates wih ts pat for hyesenkeupp indus Sluions {proud tery Nef) alert Soliton at’ mor than 25 NA po ‘ction plans gba. Combined, the instaltions feauce arrual NO femissone equaient 10. SPF ‘ataly 15 mon tons of CO, ih August 2015, Osan’ Into duced Ervicat NZO'S, a secondary ‘ata that ean be easly sald ‘xing NA plans without evamng the oct, and converte ho malo (Of NO generated into harmioss Ne fand 0 Ate same tine, the cat yt reduoes Ny requrements for the same amour of NApreducton, thus conaiceraby lowering operating cost, says the compar Meanufie, Haldor Topsoe A/S (tynopy Denmark: seu tepsoe, am) recently troduced TerNOx ‘ew cata or roduerg bath NOx fxd NZO emissions ftom the tal (5 of NA pants. Unik traiional Dolettype catasts, TortNOx I. a ‘ronolth struct thats impreg ‘ated wth ron zoo that onabios a ‘Spl, smal and ess-expensie fet dein ase Cham. erg. May 2017, p10 eratonsey save Dav for nstareo, are