Industrial Solutions

Ammonium
sulfate plants
Make the best of your by-product!
2

The fluidized bed granulator is

the centerpiece of the production
plant. It is where the liquid
ammonium sulfate is turned into
a solid product.
Ammonium sulfate plants 3

Know-how
that breeds success
thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions has
decades of experience in supplying
single-source, turnkey solutions to the
fertilizer industry.
There are a number of challenges facing fertilizer producers in
today's world: Stringent environmental regulations are as much
a priority as the demand for increased capacities. Very often
it is aging plants that need to be modernized or even completely
replaced. Many companies also decide to build new multi-com-
plex plants in which different fertilizer products can be produced.
thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions is a competent partner in
accomplishing all these tasks, supporting customers throughout
the world with comprehensive concepts, ground-breaking engi-
neering and reliable services. Moreover, we implement solutions
in cooperation with equally experienced and competent partners.
This means that our customers benefit from tailored project man-
agement with a central contact point.
For existing plants, we offer extensive services to cover the entire
life cycle of the plant. Therefore, plants are always optimally
serviced and maintained so as to ensure optimum productivity at
all times.

The complete process chain for the production of different fertilizers:

Feedstocks Products

Synthesis Gas Ammonia Urea

Plant
Urea Plant
Granulation Urea
Generation

Energy

Nitrogen Fertilizer
(natural gas,
naphtha, coal,
biomass, hydrogen) Nitric Acid AN Plant UAN Plant UAN
Plant

AN/CAN AN
Granulation

Limestone AS Solution
CAN

Sulfuric AS AS
Acid Plant Plant Granulation AS
Phosphate and Compound Fertilizer

Sulfur

Phosphoric DAP/MAP
Beneciation
Granulation
DAP
Acid Plant

ROM Phosphate Gypsum

Rock

NP(K)
NP(K)
Granulation

Potassium
= thyssenkrupp processes = Third-party processes
4

From an industrial
by-product to a
high-quality fertilizer
Plant growth depends on the nutrient content of the soil. A balanced distribution of pri-
mary and secondary nutrients as well as microorganisms ensures an optimum crop yield.
Nitrogen is an essential nutrient, and so is sulfur.

In todays world a cleaner environment, tail gas desulfurization

and less acid rain now mean that especially soils that are neutral
low-cost Output high-quality or alkaline require the controlled addition of a fertilizer additive
which contains sulfur: ammonium sulfate.
Standard crystalline Premium granular
Ammonium sulfate feeds sulfur and nitrogen to the soil. With its
colloidal components, the fertilizer binds to clay particles in the
soil, ensuring a long-term supply of nutrients. Ammonium sulfate
is thus perfect for plants with a long growth period and in areas
with high rainfall. In addition to acting as a long-term plant nutri-
ent, the sulfur also promotes the transfer of micronutrients, such
as manganese, iron and boron, from the soil to the plants.
state of the art

state of the art

Ammonium sulfate solutions are a pertinent industrial by-prod-

thyssenkrupp uct. In addition to sulfate, nitrogen and sulfur are key compo-
plant nents of this fertilizer, which is mostly marketed in the form of
crystals. In its state-of-the-art plants, thyssenkrupp has devel-
oped a process to convert ammonium sulfate solution to gran-
ules. The key advantages compared with liquid and crystalline
solutions: improved storage as well as spreading and mixing
properties.
Ammonia
By-products and
Alternative granulating plants are not able to process ammonium
sulfuric acid
sulfate solutions. These plants require expensive ammonia and
sulfuric acid to achieve higher-priced premium product charac-
teristics.
low-cost Input high-quality
Ammonium sulfate plants 5

In the past

S
S

Renery / Power Plant

Renery / Power Plant

Natural Gas / Oil / Sulfur

Natural Gas / Oil / Sulfur

Today

S
S
Renery / Power Plant Fertilizer Plant Fertilizer N/P/K/S

Renery / Power Plant Fertilizer Plant Fertilizer N/P/K/S

Natural Gas / Oil / Sulfur O

Natural Gas / Oil / Sulfur O

H
O
S O
H
H
O
SO O
N H
H
H N H O H
H
HAmmonium
H Sulfate N H
(NH) SO
Ammonium Sulfate H N H
(NH) SO
H H
6

Premium fertilizer for

optimum plant growth
Granulated ammonium sulfate is a high-quality fertilizer which, compared with
standard products, is traded in crystalline form at premium prices. Why choose the
thyssenkrupp Uhde ammonium sulfate process? The granular form as a unique
selling point and the high profit margin are two very good reasons.
Another advantage: Due to the large quantities produced, crystalline ammonium sulfate is a mass-market product while
granulated ammonium sulfate is produced by only a few suppliers in relatively small quantities. Demand is accordingly high
and there are sales opportunities in niche markets, too.

Uhde ammonium sulfate process

Exhaust
Plant air

Dedusting lter
Scrubber
Storage
Ammonium tank Droplet separator
sulfate
solution Water

Granulation
Scrubbing
additive
solution tank
Fluidized bed Recycle
granulator conveyor
Screen-
ing

Crusher
Steam
Coating
agent Ammonium
Air Coating sulfate
drum granules
Condensate
Ammonium sulfate plants 7

Conversion of liquid ammonium sulfate solution into granules

Spraying Wetting Drying Layering

Seed granules Product granules

Overview of ammonium sulfate product prices

120
Product Specification

100 Nitrogen Content ~ 21 wt %

Premium price / US$/metric ton

Sulfur Content ~ 24 wt %
80
Moisture < 0,5 wt %
60 Hardness ~ 3.000 g

Bulk density 750-850 kg/m3

40
Diameter 2-4 mm ~ 90 %
20

-20

-40

Granules White Crystals

Larger Crystals Other Crystals
Compacted

Integer Research Limited, 2013 The Global Ammonium

Sulphate Market Service
Industrial Solutions
Fertilizer & Syngas Technologies

thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions AG

Friedrich-Uhde-Strae 15
44141 Dortmund
Germany
P: +49 231 547 0
F: +49 231 547 10
nitrates@thyssenkrupp.com
www.thyssenkrupp-industrial-solutions.com

PT 017/0/e/1000/201701/KE/Printed in Germany