AMMONIA

Most ammonia is produced on a large scale by the Haber-Bosch process with capacities of up to 3,300 metric tons
per day.

A typical modern ammonia-producing plant first converts natural gas (i.e., methane) or LPG (liquified petroleum
gases such as propane and butane) or petroleum naphtha into gaseous hydrogen. The method for producing
hydrogen from hydrocarbons is referred to as "Steam Reforming".[2] The hydrogen is then combined with nitrogen
to produce ammonia via the Haber-Bosch process.

Starting with a natural gas feedstock, the processes used in producing the hydrogen are:

 The first step in the process is to remove sulfur compounds from the feedstock because sulfur deactivates
the catalysts used in subsequent steps. Sulfur removal requires catalytic hydrogenation to convert sulfur
compounds in the feedstocks to gaseous hydrogen sulfide:

H2 + RSH → RH + H2S(gas)

 The gaseous hydrogen sulfide is then adsorbed and removed by passing it through beds of zinc oxide where
it is converted to solid zinc sulfide:

H2S + ZnO → ZnS + H2O

 Catalytic steam reforming of the sulfur-free feedstock is then used to form hydrogen plus carbon monoxide:

CH4 + H2O → CO + 3H2

 The next step then uses catalytic shift conversion to convert the carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide and
more hydrogen:

CO + H2O → CO2 + H2

 The carbon dioxide is then removed either by absorption in aqueous ethanolamine solutions or by
adsorption in pressure swing adsorbers (PSA) using proprietary solid adsorption media.

 The final step in producing the hydrogen is to use catalytic methanation to remove any small residual
amounts of carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide from the hydrogen:

CO + 3H2 → CH4 + H2O

CO2 + 4H2 → CH4 +2H2O

To produce the desired end-product ammonia, the hydrogen is then catalytically reacted with nitrogen (derived from
process air) to form anhydrous liquid ammonia. This step is known as the ammonia synthesis loop (also referred to
as the Haber-Bosch process):

3H2 + N2 → 2NH3

This conversion is typically conducted at 15–25 MPa (150–250 bar) and between 300 and 550 °C, as the gases are
passed over four beds of catalyst, with cooling between each pass so as to maintain a reasonable equilibrium constant.
 Uses of Ammonia:

Fertilizer

Approximately 83% (as of 2004) of ammonia is used as fertilisers either as its salts, solutions or anhydrously. When
applied to soil, it helps provide increased yields of crops such as corn and wheat

Precursor to nitrogenous compounds

Ammonia is directly or indirectly the precursor to most nitrogen-containing compounds. Virtually all synthetic
nitrogen compounds are derived from ammonia.

NH3 + 2 O2 → HNO3 + H2O

Nitric acid is used for the production of fertilizers, explosives, and many organonitrogen compounds.

Cleaner

Household ammonia is a solution of NH3 in water (i.e., ammonium hydroxide) used as a general purpose cleaner for
many surfaces. Because ammonia results in a relatively streak-free shine, one of its most common uses is to clean
glass, porcelain and stainless steel. It is also frequently used for cleaning ovens and soaking items to loosen baked-
on grime. Household ammonia ranges in concentration by weight from 5 to 10% ammonia.

Fermentation

Solutions of ammonia ranging from 16% to 25% are used in the fermentation industry as a source of nitrogen for
microorganisms and to adjust pH during fermentation.

Antimicrobial agent for food products

Anhydrous ammonia destroyed 99.999% of zoonotic bacteria in 3 types of animal feed, but not silage. Anhydrous
ammonia is currently used commercially to reduce or eliminate microbial contamination of beef Pink slime (or lean
finely textured beef in the beef industry) is made from fatty beef trimmings (about 50–70% fat) by removing the fat
using heat and centrifugation, then treating it with ammonia to kill E. coli.

Eutrophication
Eutrophication is a result of nutrient pollution (from deposition or run-off) into natural waters (creeks,
rivers, ponds, or lakes). Eutrophication generally promotes excessive plant growth and decay, favors certain
weedy species over others, and is likely to cause severe reductions in water quality. In aquatic
environments, enhanced growth of choking aquatic vegetation or algal blooms disrupt normal functioning
of the ecosystem, causing problems such as a lack of oxygen in the water, needed for fish and other aquatic
life to survive. The water then becomes cloudy, colored a shade of green, yellow, brown, or red.

Soil Acidification
When ammonia reaches the soil surface, it usually reacts with water in the soil and is converted into its
ionic form, ammonium (NH4+) and absorbes to the soil. The ammonium in the soil eventually disassociates
or is nitrified into nitrite (NO2-) or nitrate (NO3-) by nitrifying bacteria, releasing H+ ions into the soil (3,
4). If not taken up by biomass and converted to methane, the surplus H+ ions eventually lead to the
formation of an acidic soil environment. The nitrogen left over in the soil will either be taken up by plants,
stored in the soil, returned to the atmosphere, or will be removed from the soil in runoff or leaching (3).
Fertilization of Vegetation
Fertilization of vegetation by ammonia occurs in much the same way as applying fertilizer to the soil;
however, in this case ammonia gas from the air deposits on the leaf or soil surface at the base of the plant
and is taken up by the plant. Changes in plant growth can then occur, similar to those resulting from
fertilization. In a grass plains environment, changes may be subtle; however, in natural or mountain areas,
changes in plant species may be more obvious, promoting weedy plants while choking out native plants and
wild flowers or promoting grasses and sages.

Changes in Ecosystems
An ecosystem is a natural system consisting of plants, animal, and other microorganisms functioning
together in a balanced relationship. Changes in ecosystems due to ammonia deposition occur through a
combination of all the above mentioned processes. When changes in ecosystems occur, the natural balance
of a system is disrupted and fragile plant and animal species can be replaced by non-native or N-responsive
species. The disruption of an ecosystem can cause it to adapt by changing (positive or negative outcome),
or a disruption may lead to the extinction of the ecosystem.

Smog and Decreased Visibility

When ammonia combines with NOx and SOx emissions from industrial and vehicle combustion processes
it forms fine particulates. These fine particulates (also known as PM2.5) are a contributor to haze/smog in
cites and decreased visibility (haze) in pristine areas. Smog is also a human health issue leading to an
increased rate of respiratory and heart diseases

*When in fine particulate (PM2.5) form, ammonium particles pose a risk to human health. Such small diameter
particles are able to be respired and travel deep into lung tissue to the alveoli causing a variety of respiratory
ailments such as bronchitis, asthma, coughing, and farmers lung. The particulate form of ammonia (PM2.5) is
usually found in urban or suburban areas where ammonia gas from agriculture (and other sources) has undergone
chemical reaction with urban emissions such as NOx and SOx and formed PM2.5 leading to smog formation.

Ammonia gas is a highly hydrophilic base that has irritant properties when inhaled which, when combined with
water, can injure and burn the respiratory tract (42).