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SOURCE ASSESSMENT: SYNTHETIC AMMONIA PRODUCTION
Citation:
Rawlings, G. AND R. Reznik. SOURCE ASSESSMENT: SYNTHETIC AMMONIA PRODUCTION. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/2-77/107m.
Description:
The report describes a study of air emissions from the production of synthetic ammonia. In 1976, 90 synthetic ammonia plants in 30 states produced 15.2 million metric tons of anhydrous ammonia. Ammonia is synthesized by the reaction of nitrogen and hydrogen. Most plants produce hydrogen by the catalytic steam reforming of natural gas. An average ammonia plant has a capacity of 180,000 metric tons/year. Plant air emissions result from regeneration of the desulfurization tank, from combustion in the primary reformer, from regeneration of the CO2 scrubbing solution, and from steam stripping of process condensate. On the average, emissions from the regeneration of the desulfurization tank are released for 10 hours, but only once every 30 days; emissions from the other sources are continuous during plant operation. These emission points are not controlled because no state or federal standards are exceeded. Process modifications have reduced air emissions and improved utilization of raw materials and energy. Potential environmental effects from ammonia plant emissions were measured: highest continuous source severities result from NOx emissions from the primary reformer (4.1), and ammonia emissions from the regeneration of the CO2 scrubbing solution (2.2) and from the condensate steam stripper (3.2). Annual ammonia production should increase by 4-8% through 1980. Industry emissions should also increase at this rate.