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Title: Electrochemical process for the preparation of nitrogen fertilizers

Abstract

The present invention provides methods and apparatus for the preparation of nitrogen fertilizers including ammonium nitrate, urea, urea-ammonium nitrate, and/or ammonia, at low temperature and pressure, preferably at ambient temperature and pressure, utilizing a source of carbon, a source of nitrogen, and/or a source of hydrogen or hydrogen equivalent. Implementing an electrolyte serving as ionic charge carrier, (1) ammonium nitrate is produced via the reduction of a nitrogen source at the cathode and the oxidation of a nitrogen source at the anode; (2) urea or its isomers are produced via the simultaneous cathodic reduction of a carbon source and a nitrogen source; (3) ammonia is produced via the reduction of nitrogen source at the cathode and the oxidation of a hydrogen source or a hydrogen equivalent such as carbon monoxide or a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen at the anode; and (4) urea-ammonium nitrate is produced via the simultaneous cathodic reduction of a carbon source and a nitrogen source, and anodic oxidation of a nitrogen source. The electrolyte can be aqueous, non-aqueous, or solid.

Inventors:
 [1];  [1];  [1]
  1. Grand Forks, ND
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Energy & Enviromental Research Center Foundation (Grand Forks, ND); Univ. of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1041014
Patent Number(s):
8152988
Application Number:
12/200,621
Assignee:
Energy & Enviromental Research Center Foundation (Grand Forks, ND)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
C - CHEMISTRY C05 - FERTILISERS C05C - NITROGENOUS FERTILISERS
C - CHEMISTRY C25 - ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES C25B - ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS
DOE Contract Number:  
FC36-03GO13055
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY

Citation Formats

Aulich, Ted R, Olson, Edwin S, and Jiang, Junhua. Electrochemical process for the preparation of nitrogen fertilizers. United States: N. p., 2012. Web.
Aulich, Ted R, Olson, Edwin S, & Jiang, Junhua. Electrochemical process for the preparation of nitrogen fertilizers. United States.
Aulich, Ted R, Olson, Edwin S, and Jiang, Junhua. Tue . "Electrochemical process for the preparation of nitrogen fertilizers". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1041014.
@article{osti_1041014,
title = {Electrochemical process for the preparation of nitrogen fertilizers},
author = {Aulich, Ted R and Olson, Edwin S and Jiang, Junhua},
abstractNote = {The present invention provides methods and apparatus for the preparation of nitrogen fertilizers including ammonium nitrate, urea, urea-ammonium nitrate, and/or ammonia, at low temperature and pressure, preferably at ambient temperature and pressure, utilizing a source of carbon, a source of nitrogen, and/or a source of hydrogen or hydrogen equivalent. Implementing an electrolyte serving as ionic charge carrier, (1) ammonium nitrate is produced via the reduction of a nitrogen source at the cathode and the oxidation of a nitrogen source at the anode; (2) urea or its isomers are produced via the simultaneous cathodic reduction of a carbon source and a nitrogen source; (3) ammonia is produced via the reduction of nitrogen source at the cathode and the oxidation of a hydrogen source or a hydrogen equivalent such as carbon monoxide or a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen at the anode; and (4) urea-ammonium nitrate is produced via the simultaneous cathodic reduction of a carbon source and a nitrogen source, and anodic oxidation of a nitrogen source. The electrolyte can be aqueous, non-aqueous, or solid.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Apr 10 00:00:00 EDT 2012},
month = {Tue Apr 10 00:00:00 EDT 2012}
}