Electrochemical process for the preparation of nitrogen fertilizers

Patent · Tue Apr 10 04:00:00 EDT 2012

OSTI ID:1041014

Aulich, Ted R ^[1]; Olson, Edwin S ^[1]; Jiang, Junhua ^[1]

---

1. Grand Forks, ND

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.

• Research Organization: Energy & Enviromental Research Center Foundation (Grand Forks, ND); University of North Dakota
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: FC36-03GO13055
• Assignee: Energy & Enviromental Research Center Foundation (Grand Forks, ND)
• Patent Number(s): 8,152,988
• Application Number: 12/200,621
• OSTI ID: 1041014
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY