NITRATES
Efficient, safe, and low-emission nitric acid production for fertilizers and beyond
Why Nitrates Matter
- Mono pressure, dual pressure and Total Recycle technologies
- Plant capacities up to 2,000+ MTPD
- Optimized CAPEX, energy consumption and steam export
- Advanced NOx and N₂O emissions reduction
- Solutions for greenfield plants, revamps and lifecycle support
Nitric acid is a cornerstone of the global fertilizer industry, with over 80% of production used to create ammonium nitrate and UAN (urea ammonium nitrate). It is also a critical intermediate for producing explosives, specialty chemicals, and advanced fuel components.
The challenge for producers today lies in building or revamping plants that meet stringent environmental regulations, optimize energy recovery, and reduce both emissions and total cost of ownership, all while maintaining operational safety and reliability.
Industrial Applications of Nitric Acid
Nitric acid serves both agriculture and industry as a vital input for:
Nextchem Technologies for Nitric Acid
Through Stamicarbon, NEXTCHEM provides a proven portfolio of nitric acid technologies, including NX Stami™ Nitrates for mono-pressure and dual-pressure production, and the NX Stami™ Total Recycle Concept (TRC), an innovative approach that utilizes oxygen and nitrogen recycling to significantly reduce emissions, energy consumption, and plant investment costs.
These technologies enable producers to select the optimal technology based on capacity, sustainability targets, and project requirements.
TECHNOLOGY | BEST SUITED FOR | KEY VALUE |
NX STAMI™ Mono Pressure Nitric Acid | Plants up to 600 MTPD and small-scale green ammonia integration | Lower CAPEX and a simple, reliable configuration |
NX STAMI™ Dual Pressure Nitric Acid | Large-scale plants above 600 MTPD | Lower energy consumption and capacities up to 2,000+ MTPD |
NX STAMI™ Total Recycle Concept | Low-carbon projects and green ammonia complexes | Near-zero emissions potential, reduced energy use and lower capital investment |
Project Delivery and Revamp Solutions
In addition to nitric acid technologies, we support you in the entire plant lifecycle.
Whether developing a new facility or upgrading an existing asset, dedicated packages help accelerate project execution, improve plant performance and ensure long-term operational reliability.
SERVICE | WHAT IT DELIVERS | SUITABLE FOR |
NX STAMI Nitrates - Launch™ | Greenfield mono- or dual-pressure plants delivered turnkey, complete with tertiary abatement, digital TTS and operator training | Fertilizer producers building first-time or large-capacity units (600–2,000 t d⁻¹). |
NX STAMI Nitrates - Evolve™ | Brownfield revamp package: high-temp tail-gas heater, tertiary reactor retrofit, condenser upgrade and expander optimisation. +20% capacity, −15% energy, < 20 ppm NOx/N₂O. | Owners of 1970–2010 nitric-acid trains seeking debottlenecking, energy savings or emission compliance. |
Mono- and dual-pressure nitric-acid flowsheet with maximum energy recovery
Conventional nitric acid production by keeping nitrogen circulating in the loop
Stamicarbon, the nitrogen technology licensor of NEXTCHEM, has delivered numerous projects worldwide covering technology licensing, plant optimization and revamping for urea, ammonia, and nitric acid production.
Nextchem provides:
- Plant assessment
- Feasibility studies
- Technology licensing
- Proprietary Equipment
- Revamps and plant debottlenecking
- Full Life Cycle Support
Download the leaflet to discover all the key feature about our tecnology.
FAQ
How can I ensure that my nitric acid plant complies with NOx and N2O emission standards?
A reliable and advanced solution is adding a tertiary abatement system to drive more efficient and more sustainable nitric acid production. It features a high-temperature reactor with an Fe-zeolite catalyst. This single unit efficiently removes both NOx and N2O, ensuring your plant meets the most stringent environmental regulations. Stamicarbon Nitric Acid design allows you to use a tertiary abatement system, ensuring your plant complies with global standards.
Is there a clean and more efficient alternative to produce conventional nitric acid?
Yes. The NX STAMI™ Total Recycle Concept (TRC) replaces the conventional once-through use of atmospheric air with oxygen supply and internal nitrogen recycling. This streamlined process reduces energy consumption, equipment size and emissions while improving steam export, providing a cleaner and more efficient route for nitric acid production.
Can I integrate Nitric Acid production into other fertilizer production lines?
Yes, the nitric acid plant can be offered as an integrated solution within a larger complex for UAN (Urea Ammonium Nitrate) production, combining the nitric acid plant with urea solution, ammonium nitrate solution, and UAN mixing plants.
How can I reduce energy consumption in my nitric acid plant?
NX Stami™ Nitrates technology is designed for maximum energy recovery, primarily through the unique positioning of the third tail gas heater. This results in the lowest energy consumption and higher steam exports, significantly reducing your plant's operational expenditure (OPEX).
Ammonia
Sustainable ammonia production with renewable energy or carbon capture
Urea
Engineering excellence through decades of experience
Hydrogen & Syngas
Empowering the shift to low-carbon production
Methanol
Complete portfolio for conventional, blue and green methanolLooking for more information or have a project inquiry? Fill out the form to connect with our experts. We will get back to you shortly.