Ammonia – Liquor (Aqueous Ammonia) has a wide range of applications across various industries due to its alkaline properties, ability to neutralize acids, and role as a source of nitrogen. Here’s how it is commonly used in different sectors:
- Chemical Industry:
- Chemical Manufacturing: Used as a raw material in the production of fertilizers, plastics, explosives, nitric acid, and other chemicals.
- Neutralization Agent: Employed to neutralize acidic compounds in chemical processes, preventing corrosion and balancing pH levels in various reactions.
- Ammonium Compounds: Used to create ammonium salts and compounds such as ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, and ammonium phosphate, important for fertilizers and explosives.
- Fertilizer Industry:
- Nitrogen Source: A key ingredient in fertilizers, aqueous ammonia provides nitrogen, which is essential for plant growth.
- Ammonium Nitrate Production: Used in the manufacture of ammonium nitrate fertilizers, which provide highly soluble nitrogen for plants.
- Water Treatment Industry:
- pH Control: Used to raise pH levels in water treatment plants, preventing the corrosion of pipes and equipment and ensuring the proper functioning of water treatment processes.
- Chloramination: Combined with chlorine to form chloramine, a disinfectant used in municipal water treatment plants to kill bacteria and other pathogens while reducing the formation of harmful byproducts like trihalomethanes (THMs).
- Textile Industry:
- Fabric Processing: Utilized in the preparation and softening of textiles, as well as in dyeing processes to stabilize dyes and improve color fastness.
- De-greasing Agent: Used to clean and prepare textiles by removing grease and other impurities.
- Pulp and Paper Industry:
- Pulping Process: Ammonia liquor is used in the delignification process, helping to break down lignin in wood pulp and improve the efficiency of paper production.
- Paper Bleaching: Involved in the bleaching process, helping to control the pH and improve the brightness of paper.
- Refrigeration Industry:
- Refrigerant: Aqueous ammonia is used in large-scale industrial refrigeration systems as a cooling agent, especially in food processing plants, breweries, and ice rinks. Ammonia is favored for its high energy efficiency and low environmental impact.
- Mining and Metallurgy:
- Leaching Agent: Used in the hydrometallurgical extraction of metals such as copper, nickel, and cobalt through ammonia leaching processes.
- pH Control: Helps to control pH during metal refining and extraction processes, preventing equipment corrosion and improving efficiency.
- Household and Commercial Cleaning:
- Cleaning Agent: Used in industrial and household cleaners for its ability to dissolve grease, oils, and grime on surfaces such as glass, stainless steel, and ceramics.
- Stain Remover: Ammonia liquor is effective in removing stubborn stains, particularly in textiles, carpets, and upholstery cleaning.
- Agriculture and Animal Husbandry:
- Fertilizer Production: A major component in the production of ammonia-based fertilizers, providing a readily available form of nitrogen for plants.
- Odor Control: In livestock facilities, aqueous ammonia is used to neutralize odors and control pH levels in animal waste treatment systems.
- Pharmaceutical Industry:
- pH Adjuster: Used in the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals to adjust the pH of solutions, creams, and ointments.
- Chemical Intermediate: Ammonia liquor is used in the production of various chemicals and compounds that are part of pharmaceutical formulations.
- Rubber and Plastic Industry:
- Coagulation of Latex: Used in the rubber industry to prevent premature coagulation of latex during production processes, especially in the manufacturing of natural rubber products.
- Petroleum Industry:
- Amine Scrubbing: Ammonia is used in gas scrubbing processes to remove acidic gases, such as hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) and carbon dioxide (CO₂), from crude oil or natural gas, ensuring the purity and quality of the final product.
- Food and Beverage Industry:
- Food Processing: Employed as a cleaning agent and pH adjuster in food processing plants. Also used to control acidity in some food products.
- Air Pollution Control:
- Flue Gas Treatment: Used in Selective Non-Catalytic Reduction (SNCR) and Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) systems to reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from industrial furnaces and power plants.
- Leather Tanning Industry:
- Dehairing Agent: Used in the leather tanning process to aid in the removal of hair from hides and skins during the preparation of leather.
