4.0 PROCESS SELECTION
Aspect Direct Combination of Two Elements, Nitrogen and Hydrogen
Reaction of Ammonium chloride with calcium oxide
Decomposition of Ammonium Chloride
Overall Reaction Path
N2 + 3H2 → 2NH3 2NH4Cl + 2CaO → CaCl2 + Ca(OH)2
+ 2NH3
NH4Cl → NH3 + HCl
Raw Material Nitrogen; Hydrogen Ammonium chloride; Calcium oxide Ammonium ChlorideCatalyst iron - -Gross Profit ($/kg) 0.45 0.20 1.13
Advantages Raw Material Cost:Abundant and relatively inexpensive, easy obtain
Others:Excess raw material can be
recycle, 99.9% product purity
- -
Disadvantages - Raw Material Cost:Relatively expansive, hardly obtain
Others:Corrosive solid of CaO
Raw Material Cost:Relatively expansive, hardly
obtainOthers:
HCl impart acute potential health effects, carcinogenic
Technology Well developed Not well developed Not well developedJustification From the above analysis, decomposition of ammonium chloride is the most economically ideal, followed by
direct combination of nitrogen and hydrogen and finally reaction of ammonium chloride with calcium oxide. But according to the advantages and disadvantages, the production of ammonia by using nitrogen and hydrogen is much better compared to the other two techniques. Besides, those two techniques appear impractical since the technology not well developed. In order to remain sustainable in the future, direct combination of nitrogen and nitrogen is the best solution
*The list of of prices of raw materials, products, and by-products as well as detail calculations of economic potential are shown in appendix
APPANDIX
Route 1: Direct Combination of Two Elements, Nitrogen and Hydrogen
N2 + 3H2 → 2NH3
Products Reactants Products
Overall Chemical Equation N2 H2 NH3
Kmole 1 3 2Molecular Weight (kg/kmol) 28.02 2.02 17.031Weight 28.02 6.06 34.062Weight / Weight NH3 0.823 0.178 1Price of Component ($/kg) 0 0.14 0.473Gross profits ($/kg NH3) 0.473(1) – 0.14(0.178) = 0.45 Route 2: Reaction of Ammonium chloride with calcium oxide
2NH4Cl + 2CaO → CaCl2 + Ca(OH)2 + 2NH3
Reactants ProductsOverall Chemical Equation 2NH4Cl 2CaO CaCl2 Ca(OH)2 2NH3
Kmole 1 2 1 1 2Molecular Weight (kg/kmol)
53.49156.0774
110.98 74.09317.031
Weight 106.982 112.155 110.98 74.093 34.062Weight / Weight NH3 3.14 3.293 3.258 2.175 1Price of Component ($/kg) 0.2 0.19 0.175 0.19 0.473
Gross profits ($/kg NH3)0.473(1) + 0.19(2.175) + 0.175(3.258) – 0.19(3.29) – 0.2(3.14) =
0.203
Route 3: Decomposition of Ammonium Chloride
NH4Cl → NH3 + HClReactants Products
Overall Chemical Equation NH4Cl NH3 HClKmol 1 1 1Molecular Weight (kg/kmol) 53.491 17.031 36.46Weight 53.491 17.031 36.46Weight / Weight NH3 3.14 1 2.14Price of Component ($/kg) 0.2 0.473 0.6Gross profits ($/kg NH3) 0.6(2.14) + 0.473(1) – 0.2(3.14) = 1.13
Chemical Prices
Chemical Molecular Weight (g/mol)
Chemical Formula
Cost(US dollar/kg)
Sources
Nitrogen 28.02 N2 0 AirHydrogen 2.02 H2 0.14Ammonia 17.031 NH3 0.473 Icispricing reportAmmonium chloride 53.491 NH4Cl 0.2 Shandong Xinguan Fertilizer
TechnologyCalcium oxide 56.0774 CaO 0.19 Tian Health Chemical Co, LtdCalcium chloride 110.98 CaCl2 0.175 Icispricing reportCalcium hydroxide 74.093 Ca(OH)2 0.19 Xiamen Diatei Chem Co. LtdHydrogen chloride 36.46 HCl 0.6 Icispricing report
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