Granulated Urea Production from Natural Gas - Cost Analysis - Urea E41A

Book excerpt: This report presents a cost analysis of Urea production from natural gas via two integrated processes: conversion of natural gas to ammonia, followed by Urea synthesis from the ammonia generated. The ammonia process examined is similar to KBR Purifier technology and Urea synthesis is similar to Saipem's (formerly Snamprogetti) self-stripping process. In the integrated production portrayed, the ammonia formed is reacted with carbon dioxide, recovered from the ammonia synthesis, to form ammonium carbamate intermediate, further converted to Urea. The non-converted carbamate is stripped from the Urea solution by excess ammonia and decomposed back to ammonia and carbon dioxide, which are recycled. After concentration and granulation steps, Urea Granules are obtained as final product. This report was developed based essentially on the following reference(s): (1) "Ammonia", Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, 5th edition (2) "Urea," Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, 2010; Keywords: KBR, NH3 Stripping, Self-Stripping, Fertilizers, Snamprogetti, Saipem, Urea Granules