UREA-AMMONIUM NITRATE (UAN)

PRODUCTION

PEOP1012
UREA-AMMONIUM NITRATE (UAN)
 Liquid urea-ammonium nitrate (UAN) fertilizer
is a solution of:-
 urea, CO(NH2)2, and ammonium nitrate,
NH4NO3, containing between 28 and 32% N.

 It is the most popular N fluid fertilizer.

 Liquid urea-ammonium nitrate (UAN) fertilizer

is relatively simple to produce.
UAN PRODUCTION
 Ammonium nitrate (AN) and urea are used as
feed-stocks in the production of urea-ammonium
nitrate (UAN) liquid fertilizers.
 A heated solution containing dissolved urea is
mixed with a heated solution of ammonium
nitrate to make a clear liquid fertilizer. Half of
the total N comes from the urea solution and half
from the ammonium nitrate solution.
 Typical end product content is 40% ammonium
nitrate and 30% urea with water making up the
remainder.
UAN PRODUCTION
 In some of the European UAN plants:
 ammonium nitrate is made directly from nitric acid
and ammonia.
 In some cases carbamate solution from the urea
reactor outlet is being used as feedstock for the
production of UAN.
UAN PRODUCTION
 Continuous and batch type processes are used.

 In both processes, concentrated urea and

ammonium nitrate solutions are measured,
mixed and then cooled.
CONTINUOUS PROCESS
 In the continuous process the ingredients of the
UAN solution are continuously fed to and mixed in
a series of appropriately sized static mixers.

 Raw material flow as well as finished product flow,

pH and density are continuously measured and
adjusted.

 The finished product is cooled and transferred to a

storage tank for distribution.
BATCH PROCESS
 In the batch process the raw materials are
sequentially fed to a mixing vessel fitted with an
agitator and mounted on load-cells.

 The dissolving of the solid raw material(s) can be

enhanced by recirculation and heat exchange as
required.

 The pH of the UAN product is adjusted prior to

the addition of the corrosion inhibitor.
BFD FOR UAN PRODUCTION
REFERENCES
 European Fertilizer Manufacturers’ Association
(EFMA), “Production of Urea and Urea
Ammonium Nitrate”, 2000.