Nitrates

Nitrogen is the most important nutrient among the three key ones: Nitrogen, Phosphorus and potassium. Though urea is today the most widely-used fertilizer product, accounting for more than 50 % of worldwide fertilizer consumption, a significant proportion of nitrogen will continue to be provided in the form of nitrates (mainly ammonium nitrate), which give better results in some soils and climates.

Casale’s set of technologies encompassing the entire production chain of any fertilizer starting from the natural gas feedstock, includes in particular the process to produce Ammonium Nitrate (AN)-based fertilizers:

• Ammonium Nitrates Solution (ANS) from nitric acid (also a proprietary process)
• Solid ammonium nitrate, fertilizer-grade, also known as High Density Ammonium Nitrate (HDAN), via prilling
• Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN) - either prilled or granular
• Ammonium Sulphate Nitrate (ASN) - prills or in granular form

A reliable fattening process is also available in case it is desired to switch from prills to bigger size particles (granules), mores suitable for modern, wide spreading techniques over the ground or as revamp to increase the plant capacity.

AN is also used in the manufacture of conventional explosives but it requires to be in a porous form, also known as Technical Grade AN or Low density AN (LDAN). Casale can license and supply the plant able to make both HDAN and LDAN, in the same unit.