Nitrous Oxide Plant

Ammonium nitrate (even technical grade) is melted in a melter. The molten ammonium nitrate flows into a combustion pot where ammonium nitrate is decomposed according to the following reaction:
NH₄NO₃ ------------> N₂O + 2H₂O

The reaction is ticklish and has to be controlled properly. If temperature of ammonium nitrate is allowed to go beyond a certain point then we do not yet yield. In our plant we almost get yield of reaction equal to 95% or even more. In practice, however, with N ₂O some other impurities are also obtained as products of combustion. There is some undecomposed ammonium nitrate, with its fumes. These are recovery in the primary scrubber. The steam in the hot gas is condensed in the first water scrubber and the entrained moisture and traces of ammonium nitrate get separated in the mist separator. The residual traces of ammonium nitrate, carbon dioxide and other oxides of nitrogen are removed in the caustic scrubber. Nitrous oxide as an oxide gas for atomic absorption in spectrophotometer and as fuel oxidant for racing vehicles.

The gas containing some nitrogen is then stored in the gas balloon. The gas is compressed with a compressor, dried in a drier and then refrigerate when it becomes liquid. Liquid nitrous oxide is stored in high-pressure storage vessel into cylinders and the gas is filled by weight. In a low pressure plant the gas after refrigeration is stored in a storage tank and from there it is filled in cylinders with a pump. Each batch is analyzed in the laboratory to ensure quality of the product and proper record is maintained.