See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/308889232

Carbon footprint in fertilizer production as a tool for reduction of GHG

emissions

Conference Paper · September 2016

CITATIONS READS

3 10,923

9 authors, including:

Krzysztof Dziuba Anna Bojanowicz-Bablok

Grupa Azoty Zaklady Azotowe "Pulawy" S.A., Poland Institute of Environmental Protection – National Research Institute
7 PUBLICATIONS   13 CITATIONS    13 PUBLICATIONS   32 CITATIONS   

SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE

Marta Kijeńska Lidia Tokarz

Institute of Environmental Protection – National Research Institute Institute of Environmental Protection – National Research Institute
32 PUBLICATIONS   254 CITATIONS    18 PUBLICATIONS   35 CITATIONS   

SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE

Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:

Łubna Landfill Reclamation View project

Ekonomiczna wycena efektów zewnętrznych składowania odpadów komunalnych / Economic valuation of externalities of MSW landfilling View project

All content following this page was uploaded by Anna Bojanowicz-Bablok on 10 May 2017.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

 Carbon footprint in fertilizer production as a tool for reduction of
GHG emissions
K. Dziuba1, M. Todorow1, A. Kowalik1, R. Góra1, A. Bojanowicz-Bablok2, M. Kijeńska2, L. Tokarz2, A. Barański2, B. Gworek2
1Grupa Azoty Zakłady Azotowe „Puławy” S.A., Puławy, Poland
2Institute of Environmental Protection – National Research Institute, Warsaw, Poland

Introduction and objective Results and discussions:

Mineral fertilizers are an essential component of agricultural production but during
their production significant amounts of energy are consumed and carbon dioxide
(CO2) and other greenhouse gases (GHGs) are emitted adding to the concentration of
GHGs in the atmosphere. However, the fertilizers industry can implement actions
directed at the reduction of the GHG emissions.
In this poster the results of carbon footprint (CF) calculations for selected nitrate and
urea fertilizers (ammonium nitrate with magnesium, urea, ammonium sulphate, urea-
ammonium nitrate solution) produced in “GA ZA PUŁAWY” company - leading
producer of nitrogen fertilizers and chemicals in Poland, are presented.
Materials and methods
The carbon footprints of selected fertilizers were calculated according to standard ISO
14067:2013 Greenhouse gases – Carbon footprint of products: Requirements and
guidelines for quantification and communication.
The “gate-to-gate” approach was used (only inputs and outputs associated with the
processes within the company site were included).
The carbon footprints were calculated for the processes of ammonia production,
nitrogen and sulphur acid production, and finished fertilizers production taking into
account the emissions from energy production (offsite and onsite) for the years 2007-
2014. The calculations of emission factors for individual processes were based on the
company EU-ETS monitoring data and were conducted with the use of Fertilizers
Europe methods. Estimation of GHG emissions and removals associated with all the
activities identified within the system boundary were carried out by direct
measurements (in case of N2O) and estimated according to standard method (in case
of CO2).
In the calculations of the CF the actual use values for individual components were
used divided according to the emission source. The utilization of steam exported from
ammonia, nitric acid and sulphuric acid units was also accounted for.
Below the emission factors and carbon footprints for the selected nitrogen fertilizers are
presented and discussed. As the ammonia and nitric acid are the primary intermediate products
used in nitrogen fertilizers manufacturing and contribute significantly to the total emissions, the
emissions factors and carbon footprints for ammonia and nitric acid production are also
presented.
Ammonia production
Ammonia (NH3) is the primary input for the majority of nitrogen fertilizer production and all
nitrogen products analysed in this presentation.
The synthesis of ammonia is very energy intensive process. The emissions from natural gas
consumption are main input to ammonia carbon footprint. The CO2 from synthesis gas is used in
urea production and included as emissions “credit”.
In the figure the change in the energy
consumption during the ammonia production
are presented.
The decrease of energy consumption after
2011 is the result of technology modification in
the CO2 removal section (Benfield process).
Nitric acid production
Nitric acid (HNO3) is used in the manufacture of different nitrogen products. In the figures the
change in emission factor of nitrous oxide for nitric acid production and the emission factors for
nitric acid production in the years 2013-2014 are presented are presented.
The decrease in nitrous oxide emission is the result of new decomposition catalyst which
significantly reduced the concentration of N2O in tail gas.

Fertilizers production
In figure the carbon footprint for selected fertilizers produced by “GA ZA PUŁAWY” company are
presented: ammonium nitrate with magnesium (AN with Mg), urea, urea-ammonium nitrate
solution (UAN), ammonium sulphate (SOA).

As shown in the above figure the GHG emissions from nitrate fertilizer production are
emitted directly from the production process (CO2, N2O) and indirectly from the use
electrical energy and heat (CO2). Electrical energy is produced onsite in company CHP
plant and the rest is produced offsite.
In the figure the schematic diagram of the company production processes is shown.

Conclusions
During fertilizer production greenhouse gases are emitted in significant quantities. The technology improvements and sustainable use of resources and energy are giving the fertilizers producers
means for reduction of GHG emissions and following reduction in carbon footprints of their fertilizers.
During period 2007-2014 the decrease in the carbon footprints of all the fertilizers produced in the “GA ZA PUŁAWY” company was observed. The decrease was due to the improvements to the
production processes implemented in the company – mainly due to decrease of energy consumption during ammonia production and to decrease of nitrous oxide emission during nitric acid
production. In the coming years further investments are planned: modernisation of existing production lines and building of the new one.
Acknowledgement: This research was supported by The National Centre for Research and Development, grant number BIOSTRATEG1/271322/3/NCBR/2015, project: Support for low carbon agriculture
able to adapt to observed climate change in the perspective of 2030 and 2050 (LCAgri)

View publication stats