Production of anhydrous ammonia and aqua ammonia enriched in 15N from (15NH4)2SO4

Abstract

In Brazil aqua ammonia is an important fertilizer for soil fertilization of the sugarcane crop. The efficiency of the use of nitrogen fertilizers (EUF) by crops is a factor that has influence on agricultural productivity. The isotope technique of 15N labeled fertilizer is used for EUF determinations. In this paper the methods for production, in a same system, of anhydrous ammonia (15NH3) and aqua ammonia (15NH3aq), both enriched in the heavy stable isotope of nitrogen, using ammonium sulfate (AS) labeled with 15N [(15NH4)2SO4 ] as raw material, are presented. The parameters evaluated in the processes were: temperature (60, 70 e 75°C); reaction time (90, 120, 150, 165, 210 e 255 minutes), flow of N2 carrier gas (140, 180 e 220 mL min-1) and mass of AS (40, 72.6, 106, 132 e 200 g). The best conditions related to the production of the 15NH3 e 15NH3aq, were obtained at a temperature of 70°C, flow of N2 carrier gas of 180 mL min-1 and a reaction time of 210 minutes. The N concentration of the 15NH3aq was between 15-20% (w/w), with the 15NH3aq production of 280 mL with concentrations around 15% (w/w) for each batch. The overall yield of the process ranged from 91 to 99% and was directly related to the mass of AS. The unrecovered 15NH3 was very low.