About Ammonia. Ammonia (a.k.a. NH3) is a colorless gas at atmospheric temperature with a known pungent smell. Although ammonia is naturally in the gas form, it can be liquefied at ambient temperature under moderate pressures and it also is highly soluble in water. Ammonia also stands as one of the foremost synthetic chemicals with production taking place in over 80 countries. This significant manufacturing process not only addressed a pivotal challenge in ensuring the world's food supply through fertilizer production but also introduced a new era in industrial chemistry. Furthermore, it laid the groundwork for subsequent high-pressure processes such as methanol synthesis, oxo synthesis, Fischer-Tropsch Process, coal liquefaction, and Reppe reactions.

The production of ammonia primarily involves the reaction between nitrogen and hydrogen, with a stoichiometric ratio of 1:3. Various production routes for ammonia are closely tied to hydrogen production methods, with steam reforming being the predominant approach. Common hydrocarbon feeds used in this process include naphtha and natural gas. Naturally, the decision on feedstock and process technology is dictated by economics and availability. Presently, natural gas serves as the primary feedstock for most existing steam reforming plants, as well as for the construction of new ones. It is important to highlight that the production of ammonia through steam reforming of natural gas is a relatively clean operation, posing minimal environmental concerns. However, the use of heavy feedstocks raises additional environmental issues, particularly related to particulate emissions resulting from the handling of solid feeds.

Most part of the yearly ammonia production is devoted to fertilizer manufacturing, with the majority of the remaining percentage utilized in the production of various other chemicals. Liquid ammonia has garnered extensive research interest as a non-aqueous ionizing solvent mainly due to its capability to dissolve alkali metals and alkaline earth metals (except beryllium), resulting in the formation of vividly colored and electrically conductive solutions comprising solvated electrons. These solutions prove highly valuable as potent reducing agents, exhibiting strong efficacy in diverse chemical processes. Moreover, ammonia serves as a direct or indirect precursor to the majority of nitrogen-containing compounds. Virtually all synthetic nitrogen compounds trace their origins back to ammonia, showcasing its importance in chemical synthesis. Ammonia also finds utility in various secondary roles. It can be employed as a hydrogen carrier, a refrigerant fluid, and a gas scrubber. Additionally, ammonia plays a significant role in the textile industry, where it is utilized in the treatment of cotton materials.

Ammonia Handling. Ammonia, with its boiling point at -33 °C under atmospheric pressure, necessitates storage in refrigerated tanks to maintain its liquid state. To design and build an Ammonia storage system, a layer of protection analysis (LOPA) study should be done to guarantee several instrumented functions in the facility. For transportation purposes, Ammonia is typically conveyed over long distances via barge, pipeline, and rail, while shorter distances are covered by truck. Anhydrous Ammonia can be transported using cylindrical steel bottles and pressurized flasks with capacities ranging from 20 to 200 kg. Aqueous Ammonia, on the other hand, can be carried in polyethylene canisters and metal casks. Transportation of ammonia also involves the utilization of trucks and rail cars with capacities of up to 100 m3, as well as ships and river barges. Additionally, a significant portion of ammonia production is transported through pipeline systems, as it proves to be a more cost-effective option for long distances compared to barge or rail transport.

Ammonia Production. Since it was developed by Fritz Haber and Carl Bosch, the catalytic synthesis of Ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen has not been significantly changed, in such a way that different Ammonia manufacturing routes are related to different sources of such elements (mostly hydrogen, which is typically produced via steam reforming). Raw materials and the respective production processes employed in the manufacturing of Ammonia are listed below.

Ammonia Uses. The uses and applications of Ammonia may vary according to its specification. The main forms of Ammonia are commercial or fertilizer grade (99.5% minimum purity, maximum water content of 5,000 ppm); refrigeration grade (99.98% minimum purity, maximum content of 150 ppm); and metallurgical grade (99.99% minimum purity, maximum water content of 33 ppm).