Anhydrous Ammonia (NH3)- A pungent, colorless gas approximately 40% lighter than air, pure ammonia (also
known as anhydrous ammonia) boils at -28ºF. At atmospheric temperature and pressure ammonia is a gas, and must be under pressure to maintain a liquid state.
Ammonia is one of the most highly used inorganic chemicals in the world today. Worldwide ammonia production in 2004 was 109 million metric tons according to the United States Geological Survey.
Ammonia is used in the production of fertilizers, explosives and polymers. Additional applications include deNOx (pollution control), heat treatment, water treatment, chemical processing, and refrigeration applications.
Industrial Ammonia Uses
Refrigeration – Due to it’s thermodynamic properties, Ammonia continues to be a highly efficient refrigerant in large industrial processes such as ice-making and food processing.
Water Treatment – When combined with chlorine ammonia forms a powerful disinfectant known as chloramine that kills trihalomethanes, carcinogens regulated by the EPA.
Heat Treatment – Disassociated ammonia is used to form atmospheres for metal treating processes such as nitriding and annealing.
DeNOx – Power plants, cement kilns, and other industries regulated by the EPA use ammonia to control emissions. When injected into stack gases, ammonia will break down harmful nitrogen oxides (greenhouse gases) into harmless nitrogen and water.
Chemical Processing – Ammonia also has diverse uses in chemical processing, from pH control to caramel coloring.