Ammonium Sulphate: Manufacturing Method, Versatile Uses, and Beyond!

Ammonium Sulphate is one of the most used inorganic salts due to its versatile uses; thus, it plays a critical role in several industries. It is most widely used for its high nitrogen content and its solubility in water making it a good fertilizer in soil, enhancing plant growth and productivity. It is not exclusive to agriculture as it has found its application in water purification, food industries, and medicine. In this blog, we will look at the uses of Ammonium Sulphate and how it is such a popular fertilizer and its properties. Whether you are a farmer who desires to improve the fertility of your soil or an industrial producer who is in search of a good industrial chemical, Ammonium Sulphate is a great choice!

Introduction

Let’s talk about Ammonium Sulphate, an essential inorganic compound with the chemical formula (NH?)?SO?, that's a game-changer in the agriculture world. This chemical is water-soluble, making it super handy for farmers.

Now, why is Ammonium Sulphate so popular? It’s all about that high nitrogen content. This makes it the go-to supplement for soils and grasses that are low on nitrogen. Plus, it plays well with other nitrogen fertilizers, boosting their efficiency and making them last longer. So, if you’re looking to give your plants a nitrogen boost, Ammonium Sulphate is your new best friend!

In Agriculture domain, Ammonium Sulphate offers several advantages:

• Enhances soil organic content: Ammonium Sulphate delivers nitrogen in the form of nitrate, augmenting the soil's physical and chemical properties.
• Promotes nutrient uptake: Facilitates better nutrient availability for plant growth, aiding in their assimilation and bolstering growth and yield.
• Boosts drought resistance: Its potent bactericidal and fungicidal properties enhance crop resilience to moisture stress.
• Cuts foliar application costs: Reduces the need for foliar treatments and fortifies plant vigor.
• Elevates food quality: Accelerates stem development, enhancing the appearance and flavor of agricultural produce.
• Mitigates pest impact: By improving nutrient uptake, it lowers pest susceptibility, minimizing damage inflicted by pests.

Manufacturing Process

Approximately 90% of Ammonium Sulphate is generated through three primary processes: Firstly, as a byproduct of caprolactam production. Secondly, through synthetic manufacture methods. And thirdly, as a byproduct of coke oven operations. These processes efficiently produce Ammonium Sulphate, ensuring its availability for various industrial and agricultural applications.

Ammonium Sulphate Production from Coke

• The exhaust gas from the exhauster is used to preheat the gas to 60-70°C. However, considering the atmospheric conditions, this temperature is reached after passing through the exhauster. Consequently, the gas is directly supplied to the saturator without additional preheating.
• The saturator, a cylindrical vessel with a conical base, features a bubbler hood connected to a duct extending into its center. This duct includes a hood with vanes and a ring-like structure with small openings for nitrogen injection. Hot water rings are positioned atop the saturator. It is consistently filled with an acid solution, typically containing 4-5% sulfuric acid.
• Coke oven gas is introduced through the bubbler hood, immersed in the solution. As the gas ascends through the solution, it reacts with the sulfuric acid, facilitating the absorption of ammonium. This setup allows for controlled chemical reactions within the saturator.
• The Ammonium Sulphate produced settles at the bottom of the saturator. Pure nitrogen is introduced into the saturator through N2 rings at a pressure of 6-7 kg/cm2, enhancing crystal growth. Pure sulfuric acid (98%) is added to the saturator to maintain the required acidity. Gas collected at the top of the saturator is directed to the acid trap.
• To eliminate acid mist from the saturator outlet, the gas is directed to the acid trap, a hollow cylindrical vessel. Coke oven gas enters the trap tangentially, inducing centrifugal motion that separates the acid mist. The separated acid collects at the bottom of the trap and is then routed to the circulating tank. Meanwhile, the coke oven gas proceeds to the Benzol recovery process, ensuring efficient removal of acid mist and facilitating the recovery of valuable resources from the gas stream.
• Some crystals may be carried upward by the gas and adhere to the saturator walls; these are dislodged by spraying hot water onto the rings provided. This process dilutes the liquor, necessitating an increase in inlet acid concentration to 6-7%.
• After the reaction, the mother liquor is continuously transferred to a circulating tank located adjacent to the saturator, serving as a seal. From there, the mother liquor is directed to a separate tank. Crystals accumulated at the bottom are conveyed to a crystal receiver tank using a pump.
• Crystal residues from the centrifuge typically retain moisture and require drying. The drier operates on the principle of a Fluidized Drier, leveraging the inherent fluidity of loose materials when subjected to a specific air velocity.
• Equipped with a bottom screen and ceramic rings, the drier utilizes a forced draught fan to introduce atmospheric air. This air, heated to 120-150°C using steam, is then circulated from beneath the screen, facilitated by the ceramic rings, inducing fluidization of the crystals. The controlled temperature ensures effective moisture removal.
• Upon reaching the preset pressure level (300-400mm Wc) in the fluidized bed, an automatic discharge feeder releases the dried Ammonium Sulphate to a bucket elevator. From there, the product is directed to a bunker for subsequent bagging.
• Maintaining a slight negative pressure (5-10mmWc) above the fluidized bed prevents carry-over of particles, ensuring efficient operation without loss of product.
• The excess liquor from the saturator is directed into the mother liquor tank, with each saturator having two tanks - one vertical and one horizontal. Initially, the liquor enters the horizontal tank, where its lower density causes it to float atop any tar present.
• The clear mother liquor is then extracted from the bottom of the horizontal tank and transferred to the vertical tank. From the base of the vertical tank, the mother liquor is pumped back to the saturator. To maintain optimal conditions, the liquor concentration is kept at 10-12%.

Key Applications of Ammonium Sulphate

• Agriculture

Ammonium Sulphate is used in agriculture mainly as a fertilizer because it contains nitrogen and sulfur which are essential for plant growth. Nitrogen is used for processes such as photosynthesis and synthesis of proteins, while sulfur plays a role in the functioning of enzymes and synthesis of chlorophyll. Moreover, Ammonium Sulphate assists in reducing the pH of the soil, which is suitable for the alkaline soils. This characteristic makes nutrients easily accessible to plants while its stability guarantees easy handling and storage. Additionally, it can be blended with other fertilizers which enable producers to formulate fertilizers containing the required nutrients by the crop. It is widely employed, particularly in rice, tea, cereal, fruit, and vegetable cultivation, and stands out as the preferred fertilizer for calcareous soils. Ammonium Sulphate is readily applicable in various crops such as onions, garlic, cauliflower, cabbage, sunflowers, and numerous others.

• Pharmaceuticals

Ammonium Sulphate is utilized in various biological and biochemical processes. It is commonly used for the precipitation and fractionation of proteins, where it helps separate proteins based on their solubility characteristics. This property also makes it valuable in the purification of antibodies and in the crystallization of proteins and protein-nucleic acid complexes. Additionally, Ammonium Sulphate serves as a nitrogen source in yeast cultures and for other microorganisms, aiding in their growth and metabolism. In the purification of antibodies, it can be used as a cleaning agent, helping to remove impurities and ensuring a higher level of purity. Overall, its versatile applications make it a valuable tool in various scientific and industrial processes within the biological and biochemical fields.

• Food

Ammonium Sulphate is recognized as a food additive, primarily used in the baking industry. It acts as a dough conditioner in bread products, improving the dough's texture and elasticity, which enhances the final product's volume and crumb structure. Additionally, it helps regulate the acidity in flour, ensuring optimal pH levels for yeast activity and consistent baking results. This regulation of acidity can enhance the flavor and shelf life of baked goods. Ammonium Sulphate's role in food processing exemplifies its versatility and importance in maintaining quality and consistency in commercial baking.

Ammonium Sulphate Market Dynamics?

The main driver of the global Ammonium Sulphate market is its widespread use by the Fertilizer Industry worldwide. This product breaks down in the soil to produce ammonia, Sulphur dioxide, nitrogen, and water. Crops utilize nitrogen and ammonia to create amino acids, while sulfur is essential for metabolism. Ammonium Sulphate is primarily employed to reduce the acidity of alkaline soils. Over the forecast period, the increasing use of fertilizers in countries with strong agricultural sectors is expected to drive demand for ammonium sulphate as a raw material for these fertilizers. The use of ammonium sulphate-based fertilizers in fertilizer blends is growing globally due to increasing consumer demand for food products. The market is likely to expand due to rising crop demand and shrinking arable land due to rapid urbanization.

Ammonium Sulphate Major Market Players

Major players in the Global Ammonium Sulphate market are Nutrien, BASF SE, OCI Fertilizer Group, AdvanSIx, Royal DSM, Thai Caprolactam Public Co., Ltd, UBE Chemical Europe, S.A.U., Misr Phosphate Company, Honeywell International, Egyptian financial and Industrial SAE, LanXess A.G, DOMO Caproleuna GmbH, and Others.

Conclusion:

Therefore, Ammonium Sulphate is an essential product with a wide range of uses that finds application across various sectors including agriculture and food processing. This is because it plays a central function as a fertilizer, supplying nitrogen, sulfur, and other nutrients to crops, and also assisting in maintaining the pH of the soil, making it an important factor in increasing the yields and improving the efficiency of agricultural practices. Furthermore, Ammonium Sulphate is a key reagent in biotechnology for precipitating proteins, purifying antibodies, and crystallizing structures, which has propelled medical sciences and biopharmaceutical industries. It also plays the role of a food additive, specifically as a dough conditioner and an acidity regulator, and its contribution in the quality and performance of baked products makes it a key player in the food safety and quality assurance industry. In the future, the market for Ammonium Sulphate is expected to grow because of the trend of increasing fertilizer consumption in developed agricultural countries, growing population and their increasing need for food products, and constant advancements in the field of biotechnology. The fact that it remains relevant in various industries is a clear indication of the fact that it remains a vital compound in the global market because of its sustainability and compatibility with other fertilizers making it the best option for farmers and industries in the market.