Nitrate fertilisers

ThyssenKrupp

A company
of ThyssenKrupp
Technologies
Uhde
2 Table of contents

Page

1. Company profile 3

2. Uhde – The right choice 4

3. The Uhde ammonium nitrate neutralisation technology 8

4. The Uhde pugmill granulation process 12

5. Prilling for low-density ammonium nitrate 16

6. Ammonium sulphate nitrate – ASN 18

7. Calcium nitrate – CN 19

8. Liquid N fertiliser – UAN and CN 20

9. Main references 22

The world of fertilisers is almost as extensive as that of

agricultural products. As an international technology-based
engineering contractor, Uhde meets the challenge posed with a wide
range of key processes for fertiliser production, including ammonia,
nitric acid, nitrogenous and phosphate fertilisers, ammonium nitrate
and UAN. More than 360 references in world-scale ammonia, nitric
acid and fertiliser plants bear witness to Uhde’s dedication to
providing customers with competitive advantages:
advanced economic and environment-friendly technologies;
professional quality-controlled engineering and project execution
principles; and maximum plant reliability.

Uhde – a valuable partner for an entire spectrum of nitrate fertilisers.

 1. Company profile 3

Uhde’s head office

in Dortmund, Germany

With its highly specialised workforce of more than 4,900 employees and its
international network of subsidiaries and branch offices, Uhde, a Dortmund-based
engineering contractor, has, to date, successfully completed over 2,000 projects
throughout the world.

Uhde’s international reputation has been built on the successful application of

its motto Engineering with ideas to yield cost-effective high-tech solutions for its
customers. The ever-increasing demands placed upon process and application
technology in the fields of chemical processing, energy and environmental protection
are met through a combination of specialist know-how, comprehensive service
packages, topquality engineering and impeccable punctuality.
4 2. Uhde – The right choice

Uhde can look back on more

than 80 years of experience in
the fertiliser sector, during which Natural gas Lime stone
time the company has engin-
eered more than 360 plants.

With today’s intensive agricul-

ture, soil yields are very much
a matter of choosing the right NH3
type of fertiliser. Selection
Uhde
criteria for the wide range of
different grades now available
include soil type, climate and
crop type. This, in turn, reflects HN03
the need for high-quality fertiliser
production. Choosing the right Uhde
process is of the essence.

Uhde offers proven, competitive CN

processes based on both pro-
prietary and renowned licensed
technologies, thus putting us CO2 NH3 HNO3
in a position to offer a full range
of plants for the production of
single-component and mixed
nitrogenous fertilisers.

The diagram on the right (Fig. 1)

provides an overview of the
principal fertiliser production
routes, as well as the available
processes and main licensors.

This brochure deals only with

the key processes offered by
Uhde for the production of
nitrate fertilisers.

For our urea, nitrophosphate, UAN Urea AN CAN CAN CN ASN

compound fertiliser, nitric acid
and ammonia processes, please Uhde Stamicarbon, Uhde, INCRO Uhde BASF Uhde Uhde
refer to our separate brochures. UFT

Fig. 1:
Uhde fertiliser processes

Nitrogen fertiliser
 5

Phosphate rock Potassium Sulphur

H2SO4

Monsanto
NH3

H2SO4
H3PO4
Ca3(PO4)2

YFT

Nitro- KCl/K2SO4
phos.
BASF

CN
conv.
BASF

Lime AN sol.

H3PO4

H2SO4

AS NP NP NP MAP DAP SSP TSP

Uhde BASF INCRO YFT, INCRO YFT, INCRO YFT, INCRO YFT, INCRO YFT, INCRO

YFT: YARA Fertilizer Technology

NPK NPK NPK INCRO: Subsidiary of Intecsa-Uhde/Fertiberia
UFT: Uhde Fertilizer Technology
BASF INCRO YFT, INCRO

Compound fertiliser Phosphate fertiliser

6
 7

Insert: 3D plant model

General view of the nitric acid and ammonium nitrate

plant for Enaex S.A. in Mejillones, Chile.
Capacities: 925 t/day HNO3 (100%) and
1,060 t/day AN prills.
8 3. The Uhde
ammonium nitrate
neutralisation technology

Ammonium nitrate neutralisa- General

tion is a proprietary Uhde pro-
cess, designed for maximum
reliability and safety. This
well-proven technology is the
basis of our nitrate fertiliser
technology portfolio and has
been used successfully by
our customers in more than
40 commercial-scale plants
for about 4 decades now.
Ammonium nitrate is produced from gaseous
ammonia and aqueous nitric acid in an exother-
mic reaction according to the following equation:
NH3 + HNO3 NH4NO3 - ³HR
The heat of reaction is released into the circulat-
ing stream of AN solution, causing a temperature
rise. Precise control of the reaction system
parameters is essential for highly-efficient ammo-
nium nitrate production. These parameters in-
clude in particular good mixing in of the reactants
as well as reliable temperature and pH control.
The Uhde technology comprises an external
circulation loop, either forced or natural, and
also a sophisticated reactant feed and mixing
system for stable operating conditions.
Uhde offers two proprietary types of neutralisa-
tion processes for the production of ammonium
nitrate solution:
Vacuum neutralisation and evaporation
This process is the most popular alternative
because it involves the lowest investment costs.
The reaction takes place in a slightly pressurised
neutraliser to prevent the ammonium nitrate
solution from boiling in the mixing and reaction
sections thus minimising ammonia losses.
Subsequently, the solution is flashed into a
vacuum through a restriction orifice adjacent to
the vapour separator, thereby utilising the reac-
tion heat for water evaporation. A solution con-
centration of 95 wt.% can be achieved with a
preheated feed of 60 wt.% nitric acid. For con-
trol and safety reasons, however, the AN solu-
tion concentration is mostly limited to 92 wt.%.
The higher concentration necessary for further
process steps, such as granulation (Section 4)
or prilling (Section 5) is achieved by steam
heating the solution under vacuum pressure.
For optimum process control and stability, Uhde
preferably applies a thermosyphon evaporation
system. The scrubbed process vapours are used
for feedstock preheating; surplus vapours are
condensed.
Ammonium nitrate neutraliser
Pressure neutralisation
In order to utilise the heat of reaction more
efficiently, the process vapour system in this
case operates above atmospheric pressure.
Uhde offers two main pressure neutralisation
alternatives for effective heat recovery:
a) The heat of reaction stored in the hot ammo-
nium nitrate solution leaving the neutraliser is
used direct for the final concentration stage.
Even if a final concentration of 97 wt.% is
required, there is no need to import additinal
steam. (Fig. 3)
b) Heating steam is imported for final concen-
tration of the ammonium nitrate solution,
while part of the heat of reaction is utilised to
generate low-pressure steam at approx. 5 bar
abs. (Fig. 4)
In both cases the flash steam from the vapour
separator at 2 - 4 bar abs is used for inter-
mediate concentration of the weak ammonium
nitrate solution. Again, the remaining process
vapours are used for feedstock preheating;
surplus vapours are condensed. Depending on
how the vapour condensate is to be used, some
or all of the vapours need to be scrubbed before
condensation in a separate vapour scrubber.
 9
Fig. 2: Process condensate
Vacuum neutralisation for scrubbing/saturation
and evaporation
CW CW

Process condensate
Vapour Vapour
Orifice separator separator

AN melt

AN solution
NH3 gas
AN AN Steam

NH3 gas
neutraliser evaporator 10 bar
HNO3

Clean condensate
Circulation pump

Vapours to scrubber

Fig. 3: Process condensate

Pressure neutralisation for scrubbing/saturation
with direct heat recovery

Vapour Vapour Vapour

separator Orifice separator separator

AN melt

Final First
evaporator evaporator

AN
NH3 gas neutraliser

HNO3

Circulation pump

Process condensate to scrubber

Vapours to scrubber

Fig. 4: Process condensate

Pressure neutralisation for scrubbing/saturation
with clean steam production

Vapour Vapour
separator separator

AN melt

Steam 5 bar Steam

Steam First Final 10 bar
Boiler feed water boiler evaporator evaporator

AN
NH3 gas neutraliser

HNO3

Process condensate to scrubber

10
Uhde can also offer a
third-party ammonium
nitrate process, for example
the INCRO pipe reactor
process, if required.
Fig. 5:
Vapour scrubbing
Vapours
Process condendates
Pipe reactor process
In this process ammonia and nitric acid are
mixed in a long pipe equipped with internals.
The heat of reaction immediately produces water
vapours which cause a rapid flow through the
pipe with a high degree of turbulence. In a down-
stream separator the flow is split into vapours
and ammonium nitrate solution. The solution is
fed into a flash tank before being pumped to the
concentration stage while the vapours are
scrubbed prior to further utilisation. The reaction
process typically operates at pressures of 4-5 bar
abs and the vapours can thus be used for further
solution concentration and other heating purposes.
Uhde has already constructed and successfully
commissioned licensed pipe reactor technology.
Steam
CW
Condenser
Vapour scrubber
Process
condensate tank
HNO3
Scrubber pump
Vapour scrubbing
The vapours formed in the ammonium nitrate
neutralisation and evaporation process are
scrubbed either direct in the vapour separator or
in a separate scrubbing column. Depending on
the quality of the process vapours, a single or
dual-stage scrubber is applied. The condensed
overhead vapours from the scrubber can be
used for various purposes, e.g. as scrubbing
make-up water or as feed for a demineralised
water plant. Contaminant levels in the clean
condensate are as low as 15 ppm nitrogen.
The sump concentrate can be used for nitric
acid make-up.
Steam ejector
CW
Steam condenser
Clean condensate
Process condensate pump
Process water for HNO3 plants
 11

Ammonium nitrate vacuum neutralisation

and evaporation unit for Enaex S.A. in
Mejillones, Chile.
Capacity: 1,060 t/day AN solution
(92/96 wt.% AN)

Consumption figures (expected)

Vacuum Pressure neutralisation Pugmill

neutralisation granulation
2 bar abs with direct 4 bar abs with clean AN 33.5
heat recovery steam production CAN 27
Fig. 2 Fig. 3 Fig. 4 Fig. 6
Steam import (4.5/10 bar a) kg/tAN 130 10 52 90
Steam export (6.5/4.5 bar a) kg/tAN - - 240
Cooling water m3/tAN 31.0 22.5 3.8 5.0
Electrical energy kWh/tAN 2.0 3.8 4.8 29.0
Ammonia kg/tAN 213 213 213
Nitric acid kg/tAN 789 789 789

Remarks: Figures for 60 wt.% nitric acid feed, 96 wt.% AN product,

cooling water at ³T = 10°C, electrical energy without DCS,
lighting, CR AirCon, limestone grinding, etc.
12 4. The Uhde pugmill granulation process

General
Today modern fertiliser plants supply granulated
products. Prilling is becoming less common due to
environmental constraints and increased product
quality requirements.
In producing fertiliser from the various solid and
liquid feed materials, the granulation unit must
ensure that the resulting product meets market
requirements with regard to its chemical and
physical properties.
There are many different ways of producing
granules, such as flaking, drum, pan or pugmill
granulation and fluid-bed technology.
In the past, Uhde has built granulation plants for
all common fertiliser grades from straight N fertil-
iser to NP(K) and P(K) fertilisers. Uhde has a
wealth of experience in the design and operation
of granulation plants and is in a position to build
plants based on all modern granulation processes.
The most common granulation process used
in nitrate fertiliser plants built by Uhde is the
proprietary Uhde pugmill granulation process.
AN granules
 13

AN/CAN pugmill granulation plant, Pugmill granulation unit for the Irish
Fertiberia S.A. (formerly Enfersa) in Sagunto/Spain Fertilizer Company (IFI) in Arklow, Ireland.
Capacity: 1,100/1,400 tpd (33.5 wt.%/26 wt.% N) Capacity: 1,400 t/day CAN granules (27.5 wt.% N)

CAN granules
14

Pugmill granulation unit for ANWIL S.A.

in Wloclawek, Poland.
Capacities: 1,200 t/day AN granules and
1,500 t/day CAN granules

The Uhde pugmill granulation process All solid feeds (e.g. filler or additives) and the
recycle material are added at the front of the
The core component of Uhde’s own granulation
pugmill to ensure sufficient mixing before the
process is a pugmill granulator. A pugmill or
liquids are added. The liquid feed (e.g. ammo-
blunger is a horizontal mixing and agglomeration
nium nitrate melt) is distributed over the fluidised
device. Its design is based on a horizontal U-type
material using a proprietary distributor.
trough with dual shafts and paddles extending
the length of the trough. The rotation of the
In the granulator the material is built up to size
pitched paddles moves the product from the
through agglomeration and layering. The hot,
bottom of the trough up through the centre. As
moist granules leaving the granulator drop through
a result of the speed at which the paddles rotate,
a chute into the rotary drying drum. In the drying
the granules are fluidised in the upper part of
drum the granules are dried by means of hot
the granulator.
air. The dried granules are then screened into
oversize, on-size and undersize fractions by
double-deck or single-deck screens. The undersize
fraction is returned to the granulator immediately;
the oversize fraction is crushed beforehand.

The on-size, or product, fraction is cooled in

a fluidised-bed cooler with conditioned air to a
suitable storage temperature.

The cooled product is then passed to a condi-

tioning unit where surface-active substances are
applied to improve the handling and/or transport
properties (e.g. caking, dusting, etc.).

The waste air of the fluidised-bed cooler is used

to dry the product, thus considerably reducing the
amount of waste air to be treated. It also reduces
power consumption as the products can be dried
autothermally or with a significantly reduced heat
input by an air heater installed upstream of the
drying drum.

Most of the dust in the waste air from the drying

drum is removed by cyclones and returned to the
granulator. After passing through the cyclones,
the air still contains dust and ammonia, which
have to be removed in order to comply with
environmental regulations.

The waste air from the drying drum and the air
from the dedusting system are therefore passed
to a wet scrubber. Here, the dust is largely
3D model
of Uhde pugmill granulation
removed from the air by close contact with the
scrubbing solution while the ammonia reacts
with the nitric acid contained therein.

The bleed from the scrubber is returned to the

evaporation system. Therefore, no liquid
effluents are produced during normal operation.
 15

Key features Uhde pugmill granulator AN solution

• Flexible with regard to capacity

• Flexible with regard to production of different
products e.g. AN, ASN, CAN, CN
• Easy addition of supplementary nutrients
(S, Mg, etc.)
• Capacity – installed single-line capacity
from 200 to 1,800 mtpd
• Emissions below BAT levels
• No liquid effluents
• Power consumption below 30 kWh/t AN granules
(depending on product)
• Low air flow
Fig. 6:
Uhde pugmill process

to atm.

Clean condensate

HNO3
Screens

Additive

Cyclones

Scrubber
Crushers Bleed
(to evaporation)

AN melt

Pugmill granulator Fluidised-bed cooler

AN/CAN

Coating drum
Filler
(limestone, dolomite) Coating agent

Cond. air
Steam

Steam

Drying drum
16
Although prilling plants for
fertiliser-grade ammonium
nitrate have decreased in
importance compared to
granulation processes, prilling
is still the state-of-the-art
process for low-density
ammonium nitrate.
Uhde offers a proprietary
technology as well as quali-
fied engineering services for
licensed processes.
Fig. 8:
Uhde LDAN prilling process
Prilling additive
AN melt
Prilling tower
5. Prilling for low-density ammonium nitrate
Low-density ammonium nitrate (LDAN) is used
as an effective and cost-efficient mining explosive,
mainly as a mixture with fuel oil (ANFO) or in
emulsion-type explosives. The high porosity of
the LDAN allows good oil absorption, which is
necessary for an optimal blasting energy yield.
If no additives are used, chemically pure ammo-
nium nitrate can be produced, e.g. as feedstock
for medical purposes (nitrous oxide).
Main characteristics of the final LDAN prills:
• Uniform spherical shape
• Nitrogen content > 34.7 wt.%
• Water content < 0.1 wt.%
• Grain size 1 - 2 mm
• Fuel absorption > 6 wt.% (adjustable)
• Free-flowing
• Good thermal resistance to hot climates
For the production of low-density prills the
ammonium nitrate melt is pumped to the prilling
tower top and mixed with a prilling additive.
From here the melt is sprayed in droplets which
crystallise in a countercurrent stream of cool air.
Screens
Prilling air Drying air
scrubber scrubber
Pre-drying drum Drying drum
Bucket
elevator
Steam Steam
The prills are then sequentially dried in two rotating
drums, screened, cooled in a fluid-bed cooler and
coated with an anti-caking agent. Off-spec
material is redissolved and recycled to the process.
All air used in the process is scrubbed to meet
BAT emission levels. By reusing the cooling air
in the drying drums, energy consumption and
waste air flow are significantly reduced.
Uhde has designed LDAN prilling plants with
single-line operating capacities of 1,250 mtpd
and engineered licensed processes of up to
1,060 mtpd.
Uhde cooperates closely with INCRO in the field
of LDAN prilling technology.
Ammonium nitrate prilling unit for
Queensland Nitrates Pty Ltd., Australia.
Capacity: 400 t/day AN prills
(technical grade)
Fluidised-bed cooler
Coating drum
AN prills
Anti-caking agent
Conditioned air
Scrubber bleed
to evaporation
17
18 6. Ammonium sulphate nitrate – ASN

The depletion of sulphur in soils is increasing An approx. 85% AN solution is fed to a saturator
and this has spurred demand for sulphur-con- together with sulphuric acid and gaseous NH3.
taining fertilisers, such as ammonium sulphate The ammonium sulphate nitrate melt is formed
nitrate. by the neutralisation of the sulphuric acid with
gaseous NH3 at approx. 160°C.
This is particularly attractive as it can be pro-
duced in a modified AN or CAN pugmill granula- The heat of reaction liberated through the
tion plant. formation of ammonium sulphate vaporises water
contained in the feedstock, thereby causing the
Ammonium sulphate nitrate is a double salt
ammonium sulphate nitrate solution to reach
which approximately corresponds to the following
the required final concentration.
formula:
The ammonia-bearing vapours from the saturator
2 NH4NO3 x (NH4)2SO4
are treated in a scrubber, where the ammonia is
removed by reaction with nitric acid. The scrubber
Commercial-grade ammonium sulphate nitrate
bleed is returned to the saturator.
contains 26% nitrogen and 14% sulphate.
ASN can be granulated in a pugmill granulation
In the Uhde process described below, the
unit as described on page 14.
ammonium nitrate combines with ammonium
sulphate to form ammonium sulphate nitrate.
The addition of additives results in a product
which is very hard and has excellent storage
properties.

Fig. 9:
Ammonium sulphate nitrate process

Vent to atm.

CW

Scrubber Scrubber

to process

HNO3 HNO3
Screen

AS (case by case) Dedusting

Crusher from points
Al2(SO4)3

FeSO4 to saturator

H2SO4 (80 – 90%)

NH3 gas

Process condensate

CW
Granulator

Orifice

NH3 gas

HNO3 Drying drum Fluidised-bed cooler

Air Air ASN

Steam
ASN conversion
 7. Calcium nitrate – CN 19

Ground limestone and nitric acid of 50 - 60%
concentration are mixed in agitated tanks.
The components react to form calcium nitrate
solution according to the following equation:
CaCO3 + 2 HNO3 Ca(NO3)2 + H2O + CO2
The CO2 and water vapours liberated by the
reaction are withdrawn, and any entrained
droplets are removed by the scrubbing system.
Commercial-grade calcium nitrate (CN) contains
approximately 5 - 7% ammonium nitrate to
improve storage properties. The required AN
content can be obtained by neutralising the
remaining free acid with ammonia or by adding
fresh ammonium nitrate solution.
If CN is used to produce liquid fertiliser, an evap-
oration step is not needed. Any inerts or other
components of the limestone that do not react
with nitric acid have to be removed by filtration.
The remaining sludge is disposed of.
If granulated product is required, the calcium
nitrate solution is sent to an evaporator to obtain
the concentration required for granulation.
CN can be granulated in either a drum or pug-
mill granulation unit to yield well-shaped round
granules, the appearance of which is similar to
that of calcium ammonium nitrate granules.
(see page 14).
The calcium nitrate melt is fed to the granulator
via a metering station along with the recycled
material (the fines, the crushed oversize, and
the dust from the dust-collecting facilities).
The granules are then air-cooled in a cooler.
The cooled product is screened, and the on-size
fraction is bagged or sent to the bulk storage area.
The waste air from the cooler is treated in a wet
scrubber before being discharged to atmosphere.
CN solution from nitrophosphate production
The nitrophosphate (ODDA) route for the
production of NP(K) fertiliser produces CN solution
as a by-product. This solution, too, can be used
to produce CN granules or liquid CN fertiliser.

Fig. 10:
Calcium nitrate process

CW
Screen
Process condensate
Vapour separator
Crusher

Evaporator
Steam

CN granules

Granulator Process condensate

Additive to solution
Scrubber
NH3 gas

CaCO3

HNO3

Cooling/Drying Drum

Sludge

CN conversion unit
20
Fertiliser complex for CF Industries Inc.
in Louisiana, USA including
a 2,000 t/day urea plant,
a 870 t/day nitric acid plant,
a 1,105 t/day AN plant and
a 2,450 t/day UAN solutio plant.
Fig. 11:
UAN solution process with ammonia gas
8. Liquid N fertiliser –
UAN and CN
UAN
The use of liquid fertilisers is a common practice,
especially in North America. A fertiliser with
excellent physical properties is UAN solution, which
is a mixture of ammonium nitrate, urea and water.
Standard solutions contain 28, 30 and 32%
nitrogen, respectively, but can also be enriched
with soluble plant nutrients, such as sulphur,
boron and calcium compounds. A typical com-
position of UAN solution with 32% N is
AN : Urea : H2O = 45 : 35 : 20%
As UAN solution is a liquid with a low viscosity,
it can easily be applied by spraying without the
need for additional irrigation. Depending on its
composition, the salting-out temperature of the
solution can be well below zero degrees centi-
grade and transport and storage are thus simple
even in cold climates.
Uhde has designed UAN plants based on two
process alternatives:
a) UAN solution on the basis of ammonium
nitrate neutralisation
In this process alternative ammonium nitrate is
produced as described in Section 3. Urea solution
and water are mixed with the AN solution in a
special UAN mixing unit to obtain the required
nitrogen content and adjusted to an alkaline pH.
After cooling and the addition of a corrosion
inhibitor, the final UAN solution can easily be
stored and handled.
CW
Condenser
Vapour
separator
Orifice
Process condensate
Ammonia AN
heater neutraliser
NH3 gas
HNO3
AN solution
Process condensate pump
Process
condensate tank
UAN solution
Circulation pump
NH3 gas
Urea solution
CW
Corrosion
inhibitor
UAN cooler
UAN solution pump
UAN solution tank
 21

b) Neutralisation of urea off-gas

When implementing a once-through urea
synthesis, the ammonia-rich off-gas can be used
to drive the ammonium nitrate neutralisation
reaction. Due to the high CO2 content in the
off-gas, the neutralisation reaction is performed
in a natural circulation loop, followed by the UAN
preparation steps described before. In order to
minimise the ammonia losses in the vent gas,
a sophisticated scrubbing system is installed,
reducing the losses to 0.013 kg AN/tAN.
Contaminant levels in the process condensate
used as make-up water for a nitric acid plant
are as low as 300 ppm AN and 100 ppm HNO3.

CN
Calcium nitrate solutions are non-pressurised
liquids mainly used for drip or irrigation systems
in horticulture. A typical solution is CN-17 with
a composition AN : CN : H2O = 31 : 36 : 33%.
This solution is a fast-acting fertiliser containing
both nitrate (for quick response) and ammonium
nitrogen (for retarding nutrition) while the calcium
buffers the pH in the soil.

The production of AN and CN is described in

detail in Section 3 and 7, respectively.

UAN solution plant

for CF Industries Inc.
in Louisiana, USA UAN off-gas vent scrubber

Fig. 12:
CW
UAN solution process with urea off-gas

Vapour Off-gas
separator scrubber
Clean condensate
AN solution

Urea off-gas AN neutraliser

HNO3
Process
condensate tank
HNO3

Urea solution Corrosion inhibitor

CW

UAN solution

UAN solution tank

22 9. Main references

AN/CAN/CN granulation plants

Completion Customer Plant site Raw Process Nitrogen Capacity Remarks

materials content
% mtpd Final Products
2000 ANWIL SA Wloclawek, Poland AN solution, dolomite Uhde Pugmill Granulation 33.5 1,200 AN Granules or
27 1,500 CAN Granules
1999 Irish Fertilizer Industries (IFI) Arklow, Ireland AN solution, dolomite Uhde Pugmill Granulation 27.5 1,400 CAN Granules
1999 AZOCHIM S.A. Piatra Néamt, Romania AN solution, dolomite Uhde Pugmill Granulation 33.5 700 AN Granules or
26 1,000 CAN Granules
1993 Sasol Fertilizers Secunda, South Africa AN solution, dolomite Uhde Pugmill Granulation 28 1,600 CAN Granules
(reconstruction)
1991 Abu Qir Fertilizers and Abu Qir, Egypt AN solution, dolomite Fluidised-bed Granulation 33.5 2 x 1,200 AN Granules
Chemical Industries Co. (HFT)
1989 Chemie Linz Linz, Austria AN solution and CaCO3 Drum Granulation (BASF) 28 1,800 CAN Granules
from CN conversion
1988 GNFC Bharuch, India AN solution and CaCO3 Uhde Pugmill Granulation 26 475 CAN Granules
from CN conversion
1987 ENFERSA Sagunto, Spain AN solution, Uhde Pugmill Granulation 33.5 1,100 AN Granules or
dolomite/limestone 26 1,400 CAN Granules
1987 Quimigal Alverca, Portugal CN solution Uhde Pugmill Granulation 15.5 150 CN Granules

AN prilling plants

Completion Customer Plant site Raw Process Nitrogen Capacity Remarks

materials content
% mtpd Final Products
2010 Orica Australia Pty. Ltd. Bontang, Indonesia AN-solution Prilling (Uhde) 34.8 970 AN Prills
2007 CSBP Ltd Kwinana, Australia AN solution Prilling (Uhde) 34.8 1,060 LDAN Prills
1999 Queensland Nitrates Pty Ltd Moura, Australia AN solution Prilling (KT) 34.8 400 LDAN Prills
1999 Enaex S.A. Mejillones, Chile AN solution Prilling (KT) 34.8 1,060 LDAN Prills
1996 TNC Thai Nitrate Co. Rayong, Thailand AN solution Prilling (KT) 34.8 220 LDAN Prills
1993 VBC Industries Visakhapatnam, India AN solution Prilling (Norsk Hydro) 34.5 240 AN Prills
1983 Empresa Pública Cachimayo, Peru AN solution Uhde Prilling 34.5 220 LDAN Prills (exp.)
Industrial Cachimayo
1977 CIL Inc. Carseland, Canada AN solution Uhde Prilling 34.8 680/1,250 LDAN Prills
 23

Nitrogen solution plants

Completion Customer Plant site Raw Process Nitrogen Capacity Remarks

materials content
% mtpd Final Products
2010 Orica Australia Pty. Ltd. Bontang, Indonesia HNO3, NH3 Uhde Vacuum Neutralisation 990 AN solution
Evaporation
2010 Orica Australia Pty. Ltd. Bontang, Indonesia LDAN solution UAN Mixing 145 UAN solution 29 % N
Urea solution
2009 Ferrostaal Point Lisas, Trinidad HNO3, NH3, Uhde Vacuum Neutralisation 1,920 AN Solution
and Tobago AUM-Project Urea UAN Mixing 4,300 UAN solution 32 % N
2007 Nitrogenmuvek Rt. Petfürdö, Hungary HNO3, NH3 Uhde Vacuum Neutralisation 1,100 AN solution
& Concentration
2006 Abu Qir Fertilizers Abu Qir, Egypt AN solution UAN mixing 1,000 UAN solution 32% N
and Chemical Industries Co. Urea solution
2004 Saskferco Products Inc. Belle Plaine, Canada HNO3, NH3, Uhde Vacuum Neutralisation 255 AN solution
Urea solution UAN Mixing 565 UAN solution 32% N
1999 Enaex S.A. Mejillones, Chile HNO3, NH3 Uhde Vacuum Neutralisation 1,060 AN solution
& Concentration
1999 The Mauritius Chemical & Port Louis, Mauritius NH3, HNO3 Uhde Vacuum Neutralisation 225 AN solution
Fertilizer Industry Ltd (MCFI)
1998 CF Industries Inc. Donaldsonville, USA HNO3, NH3, Uhde Atmospheric Neutralisation 1,105 AN solution
Urea solution Uhde UAN Mixing 2,450 UAN solution 32% N
1994 CF Industries Inc. Donaldsonville, USA HNO3, NH3, Uhde urea off-gas Neutralisation 1,460 AN solution
Urea offgas Uhde UAN Mixing 3,250 UAN solution 32% N
and solution Offgas scrubbing
1991 Abu Qir Fertilizers Abu Qir, Egypt HNO3, NH3 Uhde Vacuum Neutralisation 2 x 1,150 AN solution
and Chemical Industries Co.
1990 Kemira Tertre, Belgium NH3, HNO3 Pressure Neutralisation 2,100 AN solution
(Kemira Carnit Process)
1987 ENFERSA Sagunto, Spain HNO3, NH3 Uhde Pressure Neutralisation 1,100 AN solution
& Concentration
1987 Quimigal Alverca, Portugal HNO3, NH3, Ca(NO3)2 Quimigal/Uhde Process 135 CN solution
1983 Insomnia Construction (Pty) Ltd. Sasolburg, South Africa HNO3, NH3 Uhde Vacuum Neutralisation 800 AN solution
& Concentration
1978 PAKARAB Fertilizer Ltd. Multan, Pakistan NH3, HNO3 Uhde Vacuum Neutralisation 700 AN solution
& Concentration
1977 CIL Inc. Carseland, Canada HNO3, NH3 Uhde Vacuum Neutralisation 680 AN solution
& Concentration (1,250)
1977 CF Industries Inc. Donaldsonville, USA HNO3, NH3, Uhde Atmospheric Neutralisation 600 AN solution
Urea solution Uhde UAN Mixing 1,330 UAN solution 32%N
* AN solution capacity as 100% AN

Specialities

Completion Customer Plant site Raw Process Nitrogen Capacity Remarks

materials content
% mtpd Final Products
2002 Gujarat State Fertilizers Sikka, Jamnagar, India Ammonia, Sulphuric INCRO pipe reactor 1,320 DAP
and Chemicals Ltd. Acid, Phosphoric Acid (diammonium phosphate)
2001 Gujarat State Fertilizers Sikka, Jamnagar, India Ammonia, Sulphuric INCRO pipe reactor 230 DAP
and Chemicals Ltd. Acid, Phosphoric Acid (diammonium phosphate)
1980 Bandirma Gübre Fabrikalari A.S. Bandirma, Turkey NH3, H2SO4 Uhde Crystallisation process 21 600 AS
1973 Nitrogenous Fertilizer Industries Ptolemais, Greece NH3, HNO3, H2SO4 Uhde Pugmill Granulation 26 580 ASN
FL 221e
PDF 23.4.2009