5813 Nitrogen 1

Nitrogen Soil

• SOIL: The role of nitrogen in soil health and crop yield.

Haber-Bosch & Nitrogen Sources

• Haber-Bosch Process: Key industrial process for ammonia production (2NH3).

  • Conditions: 1200°C and 500atm.

  • Reaction: N2 + 3H2 -> 2NH3

• Global Nitrogen Contributions: 15-40 kg/ha N2O from industrial processes and natural phenomena like lightning.

Nitrogen Fixation

• Types:

  • Symbiotic: Involves organisms like Rhizobium in legumes.

  • Non-Symbiotic: Includes free-living bacteria like Azotobacter and Clostridium.

• Biological Processes:

  • N2 fixation process: N2 + 6H+ + 6e- + 8ATP -> 2NH3 + H2 + 8ADP + 8Pi (catalyzed by nitrogenase).

Nitrogen Addition Sources to US Cropland

• Estimated Contributions:

  • Commercial N: 13.2 million tons (57%).

  • Legumes & Crop Residues: 5.6 million tons (24%).

  • Animal Manures: 3.4 million tons (15%).

  • Other Sources: 0.9 million tons (4%).

Manure Nitrogen Content

• Manure Types & N Availability:

  • Poultry: 1.5% - 4.5% N; 25% - 59% available in year one.

  • Swine: 0.5% - 2.5% N; 20% - 40% available.

  • Cattle: 0.5% - 1.5% N; 15% - 35% available.

  • Sheep/Goat: 0.5% - 2.0% N; 15% - 35%.

  • Horse: 0.3% - 1.0% N; 10% - 30%.

Desulfurization Process

• Stages:

  • Hydro-desulfurization: Removal of sulfur compounds.

    • Reaction: R-SH + H2 -> H2S + RH.

    • Zinc adsorption process: H2S + ZnO -> ZnS + H2O.

Ammonia Synthesis Steps

• Reformers:

  • Primary Reforming: CH4 + H2O -> CO + 3H2.

  • Secondary Reforming: CH4 + H2O -> CO + 3H2 conversion.

  • Shift Reaction: CO + H2O -> CO2 + H2.

  • Ammonia Composition: High-pressure synthesis at 200-300 atm, 350-550°C; N2 + 3H2 -> 2NH3.

Urea Synthesis Process

• Process Flow:

  • Formation: 2NH3 + CO2 -> NH2COONH4 (Ammonium Carbamate).

  • Final reaction to Urea: NH2COONH4 -> (NH2)2CO + H2O.

Global Nitrogen Production

• Top Producing Countries:

  • 1. China: 54,258.

  • 2. Russia: 16,391.

  • 3. India: 15,643.

  • 4. USA: 14,759.

  • 5. Indonesia: 6,741.

Global Ammonia Market Analysis

• Importing Trends (2023):

  • India: 2,337 thousand tons from Saudi Arabia, Iran.

  • US: 2,090 thousand tons; top sources Canada, Trinidad & Tobago.

Global Urea Market Analysis

• Importing Trends (2023):

  • India: 7,406 thousand tons; sources from China, Russia, Oman.

  • Brazil: 7,312 thousand tons; sources from Qatar.

Fertilizer Companies

• Top Companies by Capacity:

  • Nutrien, Mosaic, Belaruskali, OCP, Uralkali, CF Industries, Yara, Eurochem, Israel, K+S.

Nitrogen Fixation Overview

• Types of Nitrogen Fixers:

  • Non-symbiotic: Azotobacter, Cyanobacteria, Clostridium.

  • Symbiotic: Rhizobium, Bradyrhizobium.

  • Associative: Azospirillum.

Annual Nitrogen Fixation by Legumes

• Typical Fixation Ranges:

  • Alfalfa: 50-300 lb/a/yr (typical 200).

  • Soybean: 20-260 lb/a/yr (typical 100).

  • Common Bean: 10-120 lb/a/yr (typical 40).

Key Points to Remember

• Processes: Haber-Bosch Process, Manure N Availability, sources of N fertilizer, nitrogen fixation.

Questions?

• Open floor for inquiries regarding nitrogen processes, sources, and applications.