1. Power Plant Chemistry
Ammonia Safety Precaution
Prepared By : -
Umar Farooq
Chemist “A” Chemical Section
MSC ( Chemistry ) MBA ( Marketing )
107301@se.com.sa
umar7325@yahoo.com
SEC Shuaibah Jeddah
Saudi Arabia 1
Mineral
Analysis
Potable water
Analysis
Microbiological
Analysis
2. Treatment for Condensate line
Neutralizing Amines
Volatile or
neutralizing amines are employed
as corrosion inhibitors to prevent
Co2 corrosion . They neutralize
carbonic acid and raise
condensate pH . Volatile amine
are
1) Ammonia NH3
2) Cyclohexyl amine C6H11NH2
3) Morph line C4H4ONH
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SEC Shoaiba Jeddah 2
Morph line may be produced by the dehydration
of di ethanolamine with sulphuric acid
3. Neutralizing Amines
These amine are injected to
the feed water .The amino added to the
feed water volatizes together with the
steam generated in the boiler with the
condensation of steam . The amine
neutralizes Co2 to raise pH of condensate
and thereby inhibits corrosion .
NH3 + H2O NH4+HCO3
C6H11NH2 + CO2+ H2O C6H11NH3+HCO3
C4H8ONH +CO2 + H2O C4H8ONH2+HCO3
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4. Ammonia
Ammonia is effective for
neutralizing CO2 , but it cannot be
used for a low pressure boiler
employing copper material in
steam and condensate line. the
normal method of controlling there
feed is by mean of pH analysis of
condensate water.
Other Name of Ammonia's
EU classification
Hydrogen Nitrite
Tri Hydrogen Nitrite
Nitro -Sill
Ammonia Reaction as underneath
NH3 + H2O NH4OH
NH4OH +H2CO3 (NH4)2CO3+2 H2O
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SEC Shoaiba Jeddah 4
5. Properties of Ammonia
At room temperature, anhydrous ammonia is a colorless, highly irritating
gas with a pungent, suffocating odor. It is lighter than air and flammable,
with difficulty, at high concentrations and temperatures. It is easily
compressed and forms a clear, colorless liquid under pressure. Ammonia
dissolves readily in water to form ammonium hydroxide - an alkaline
solution. The concentration of aqueous ammonia solutions for household
use is typically 5% to 10% (weight: volume), but solutions for commercial
use may be 25% (weight: volume) or more, and are corrosive. Anhydrous
ammonia is stored and shipped in pressurized containers, fitted with
pressure-relief safety devices, and bears the label "Nonflammable
Compressed Gas". Despite not meeting the Department of Transport
definition of flammable, it should be treated as such.
Anhydrous ammonia reacts with moisture in the mucous membranes to
produce an alkaline solution (ammonium hydroxide). Exposure to ammonia
gas or ammonium hydroxide can result in corrosive injury to the mucous
membranes of the eyes, lungs, and gastrointestinal tract and to the skin due
to the alkaline pH and the hygroscopic nature of ammonia.
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6. Fritz Haber was the German
scientist who developed an efficient
way of producing ammonia from
hydrogen and atmospheric
nitrogen.
In 1909, Fritz Haber established the
conditions under which nitrogen,
N2(g), and hydrogen, H2(g), would
combine using
medium temperature (~ 450 °C )
very high pressure (~200atm)
A catalyst (Iron)
The Industrial Manufacture of Ammonia
The Haber process
6
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7. Effect of Change in Temperature
Since the forward reaction is exothermic
N2(g) + 3H2(g) 2NH3 (g) + HEAT Increasing
The
temperature
Low yield of
Ammonia
So, industrialist always try to keep the temperature as low as
450 °C In order to favor maximum yield of Ammonia
Note: Temperature lower than this is not feasible for this
reaction, as it will take too long to attain the equilibrium
7
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8. Effect of Change in pressure
Increasing the pressure causes the equilibrium position to
move to the right resulting in a higher yield of Ammonia.
Hence the Haber process is always operated at very high
pressures of about 200 at in order to get high yields of
Ammonia
N2(g) + 3H2(g) 2NH3 (g)
Increasing
The
Pressure
High yield of
Ammonia Since there are
more gas molecules
on the left hand side
of the equation (4 in
total) than there are
on the right hand
side of the equation
(2).
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SEC Shuaiba Jeddah
9. Uses Of Ammonia
Agricultural industries are the major users of
ammonia
Ammonia is a very valuable source of
nitrogen that is essential for plant growth.
Approximately 75% of all AMMONIA
produced is converted into various ammonium
compounds like Ammonium sulphate,
Ammonium Nitrate and urea. These
compounds are called Nitrogenous Fertilizers
Ammonia is also useful in the production of nitric acid.
mixture of ammonia and air is passed over a platinum
gauze catalyst at 850 °C, whereupon the ammonia is
oxidized to nitric oxide.
4 NH3 + 5 O2 4 NO + 6 H2O
2 NO + O2 2NO2
The nitric oxide mixed with excess air is then allowed to
react with water to form Nitric acid.
4 NO2 + O2 + 2H2O 4HNO3
9
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SEC Shoaiba Jeddah
10. Uses of Ammonia
Nitric acid is not only used to
make important fertilizers but
also Explosives like
nitroglycerine or TNT
(Trinitrotoluene)
Aqueous ammonia can be a great
addition to a household's cleaning
supplies set. It is great for
eliminating stains and tarnish, and
can be the ideal solution for hard-
to-remove soap buildup in tubs,
sinks, and bathroom tiles.
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11. Ammonia Poisoning
Ammonia is a strong, colorless gas. If the gas is dissolved in water, it is called liquid ammonia.
Poisoning may occur if you breathe in ammonia. Poisoning may also occur if you swallow or touch
products that contain very large amounts of ammonia.
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Symptoms
Airways, lungs, and chest Cough , Chest pain (severe)
Chest tightness, Difficulty breathing
Wheezing
Eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and throat Tearing and burning of eyes, Temporary blindness
Throat pain (severe), Mouth pain
Lip swelling
Heart and blood Rapid, weak pulse
Collapse and shock
Nervous system Altered mental state
Fever
Restlessness
Skin Bluish-colored lips and fingernails
Severe burns if contact is longer than a few minutes
Stomach and gastrointestinal tract Severe stomach pain
Vomiting
12. Route of Exposure
Inhalation” of ammonia may cause
nasopharyngeal and tracheal burns,
bronchiolar and alveolar edema, and
airway destruction resulting in
respiratory distress or failure.
Ammonia's odor threshold is
sufficiently low to acutely provide
adequate warning of its presence
(odor threshold = 5 ppm; OSHA PEL =
50 ppm). However, ammonia causes
olfactory fatigue or adaptation, making
its presence difficult to detect when
exposure is prolonged. Anhydrous
ammonia is lighter than air and will
therefore rise (will not settle in low-
lying areas); however, vapors from
liquefied gas are initially heavier than
air and may spread along the ground
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13. Route of Exposure
Skin/Eye Contact - the extent of
injury produced by exposure to
ammonia depends on the duration of
the exposure and the concentration of
the gas or liquid. Even low airborne
concentrations (100 ppm) of ammonia
may produce rapid eye and nose
irritation. Higher concentrations may
cause severe eye injury. Contact with
concentrated ammonia solutions, such
as some industrial cleaners (25%),
may cause serious corrosive injury,
including skin burns, permanent eye
damage, or blindness. The full extent
of damage to the eyes may not be
clear until up to 1 week after the injury
is sustained. Contact with liquefied
ammonia can cause frostbite injury.
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14. Route of Exposure
Ingestion - ingestion
of ammonium
hydroxide, while
uncommon, results in
corrosive damage to
the mouth, throat, and
stomach. Ingestion of
ammonia does not
normally result in
systemic poisoning.
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SEC Shoaiba Jeddah 14
15. Filming Amines
These represent an effective
economical approach to condensate
system corrosion control.
The purpose of filming amines in
the formation of an adherent mono
molecular film providing protection from O2
and Co2 corrosion . First the film is build up
then only the amount of amines is required
to maintain the film .
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16. Typical Filming Amines
1) Octa decyl amine CH3(CH2)16 CH2NH2
2) Hexa decyle amine CH3(CH2)14CH2CH2
3) Di Octa decyle amine CH3 (CH2)16(CH2)2NH2
The general formula for filming amine is
R-NH2 where R= Alkyl group ( C10 – C12 ) the
corrosion inhibits . The effect of filming amines
on the steel material increases proportionally
with the increased number of carbon atoms.
The amines when feed in the boiler ,
also volatize with steam and condense to form
an organic film in condensate line .
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SEC Shoaiba Jeddah 16
