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Title: Electrochemical process for the preparation of nitrogen fertilizers

Patent ·
OSTI ID:1083035
; ;

The present invention provides methods and apparatus for the preparation of nitrogen fertilizers including ammonium nitrate, urea, urea-ammonium nitrate, and/or ammonia utilizing a source of carbon, a source of nitrogen, and/or a source of hydrogen. 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 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 solid.

Research Organization:
Energy & Environmental Research Center Foundation, Grand Forks, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
FC36-03GO13055
Assignee:
Energy & Environmental Research Center Foundation (Grand Forks, CA)
Patent Number(s):
8,398,842
Application Number:
13/420,979
OSTI ID:
1083035
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (11)

Electrolytic cell for producing a mixed oxidant gas patent April 1998
Process for the selective electrochemical oxidation of organic compounds patent-application March 2002
Electrochemical Synthesis of Urea at Gas-Diffusion Electrodes journal January 1998
Electrochemical process for the preparation of nitrogen fertilizers patent April 2012
Process for the synthesis of ammonia using catalysts supported on graphite containing carbon patent August 1979
Organic compound hydrogenation apparatus and method for hydrogenating organic compound patent December 2010
Method and apparatus for recovering condensables in vapor from a urea vacuum evaporator patent April 1998
Electrochemical Process for the Preparation of Nitrogen Fertilizers patent-application May 2011
Electrochemical synthesis of ammonia patent January 2008
Electrolytic oxidation/apparatus patent June 1988
Method and apparatus for generating hydrogen patent-application January 2004

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