USES AND APPLICATIONS OF AMMONIA Agricultural industries are the major users of ammonia, representing nearly 80% of all

ammonia produced in the United States. Ammonia is a very valuable source of nitrogen that is essential for plant growth. Depending on the particular crop being grown, up to 200 pounds of ammonia per acre may be applied for each growing season. Ammonia is used in the production of liquid fertilizer solutions which consist of ammonia, ammonium nitrate, urea and aqua ammonia. It is also used by the fertilizer industry to produce ammonium and nitrate salts. Ammonia and urea are used as a source of protein in livestock feeds for ruminating animals such as cattle, sheep and goats. Ammonia can also be used as a pre-harvest cotton defoliant, an anti-fungal agent on certain fruits and as preservative for the storage of high-moisture corn. Dissociated ammonia is used in such metal treating operations as nitriding, carbonitriding, bright annealing, furnace brazing, sintering, sodium hydride descaling, atomic hydrogen welding and other applications where protective atmospheres are required. Ammonia is used in the manufacture of nitric acid; certain alkalies such as soda ash; dyes; pharmaceuticals such as sulfa drugs, vitamins and cosmetics; synthetic textile fibers such as nylon, rayon and acrylics; and for the manufacture of certain plastics such as phenolics and polyurethanes.

The petroleum industry utilizes ammonia in neutralizing the acid constituents of crude oil and for protection of equipment from corrosion. Ammonia is used in the mining industry for extraction of metals such as copper, nickel and molybdenum from their ores. Ammonia is used in several areas of water and wastewater treatment, such as pH control, in solution form to regenerate weak anion exchange resins, in conjunction with

chlorine to produce potable water and as an oxygen scavenger in boiler water treatment. Ammonia is used in stack emission control systems to neutralize sulfur oxides from combustion of sulfur-containing fuels, as a method of NOx control in both catalytic and non-catalytic applications and to enhance the efficiency of electrostatic precipitators for particulate control. Ammonia is used as the developing agent in photochemical processes such as white printing, blue printing and in the diazo duplication process. Ammonia is a widely used refrigerant in industrial refrigeration systems found in the food, beverage, petro-chemical and cold storage industries. Ammonia is used in the rubber industry for the stabilization of natural and synthetic latex to prevent premature coagulation. The pulp and paper industry uses ammonia for pulping wood and as a casein dispersant in the coating of paper. The food and beverage industry uses ammonia as a source of nitrogen needed for yeast and microorganisms. The decomposition of ammonia serves as a source of hydrogen for some fuel cell and other applications. Ammonia is used by the leather industry as a curing agent, as a slime and mold preventative in tanning liquors and as a protective agent for leathers and furs in storage. Weak ammonia solutions are also widely used as commercial and household cleaners and detergents.

SITE LAYOUT

The location of the plant can have a turning effect on the overall viability of a process plant, and the scope for future expansion. Many factors must be considered when selecting a suitable plant site. The most important factors are as follows : Location, with respect to the marketing area Raw material supply Transport facilities Availability of labor Availability of suitable land Environmental impact and effluent disposal Local community consideration Climate Political and strategic consideration In addition to the main plant, we also have to consider the associated services which have to be amalgamated within a particular plant site. Canteens, parks, general utilies, emergency medical services and places for storage must also be taken into consideration while deciding on a particular site.

PLANT LAYOUT
The economic construction and operation of a process unit will depend on how well the plant equipment specified on the process flow sheet and laid out. The principal factors to be considered are: 1. Economic consideration: construction and operation cost. 2. The process requirement 3. Convenience of operation 4. Convenience of maintenance 5. Safety 6. Future expansion

COSTS: The cost of construction can be minimized by adopting a layout that gives shortest run of connecting pipes between equipment, and adopting the least amount of structural steel work. However, this will not necessarily be the best arrangement for operation and maintenance. PROCESS REQUIREMENT:

All the required equipments have to be placed properly within process. Even the installation of the auxiliaries should be done in such a way that it will occupy the least space. OPERATION Equipment that needs to have frequent operation should be located convenient to the control room. Valves, sample points, and instruments should be located at convenient position and height. Sufficient working space and headroom must be provided to allow easy access to equipment. MAINTENANCE Heat exchangers need to be sited so that the tube bundles can be easily withdrawn for cleaning and tube replacement. Vessels that require frequent replacement of catalyst or packing should be located on the outside of buildings. Equipment that requires dismantling for maintenance, such as compressors and large pumps, should be placed under cover. SAFETY Blast walls may be needed to isolate potentially hazardous equipment, and confine the effects of an explosion. At least two escape routes for operator must beprovided from each level in the process building.

ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS
In the manufacturing of ammonia, there arises a need to vent gases and to remove condensates. These liquid and gaseous effluents and the chemicals used in the process may tend to pollute the environment. The main source of gaseous ammonia emissions are from the inert gas purge and from the ammonia storage section of the ammonia plant. In the case of non functioning or breakdown of the equipment large quantity of ammonia emission increases ammonia concentration in the atmosphere. The liquid effluents contain dissolved ammonia and dissolved Carbon dioxide. The toxic effect of ammonia depends upon the concentration of free ammonia. Its presence in water leads to suffocation of aquatic life forms. Also there is the possibility of emission of particulate matter like Carbon oxides of Sulfur etc. These may removed by electrostatic precipitation or vacuum filtration. Pollution Control This may be achieved by 1 . Segregation of effluent streams 2 . Control of particulate matter by

a) Mechanical separators b) Wet Scrubbers c) Fabric filters and electrostatic precipitators. Ammonia may be removed by any of the following methods Ammonia removal technique Concentration Steam stripping 3.4 wt % Air stripping >1500 ppm Simple lagooning after PH adjustment 1500 ppm Biological treatment About 700 ppm