Nitric acid production is essential to UAN production
UAN solution plant, Donaldsonville, LA
CF Industries produces UAN Solution at its Donaldsonville, LA
complex. UAN Solution requires two intermediate products: nitric
acid and ammonium nitrate solution. The basic process involves three
major steps. These are nitric acid production, neutralization, and
UAN mixing.
Nitric Acid Production: this multi-step process begins by
vaporizing and superheating anhydrous ammonia, then mixing it with
compressed air. Reacting this mixture over a platinum-rhodium gauze
produces nitrogen oxides. The nitrogen oxide gases are then cooled
and sent to the Absorption Tower, where cooled nitrogen oxides are
absorbed in water to produce nitric acid.
Neutralization: nitric acid is chemically reacted with
gaseous ammonia in the Ammonium Nitrate Reactor to form ammonium
nitrate solution. Water is vaporized from it, producing a more
concentrated solution.
UAN Mixing: the intermediate product, ammonium nitrate
solution, flows into the UAN Mixing Tank, where it is combined with
urea solution. The final product, UAN Solution, is then cooled and
pumped to storage.
