Amonyum Sülfat

 

What is Ammonium Sulfate?

Ammonium sulfate is an inorganic salt with the chemical formula (NH_4)_2SO_4. It is commonly used as a fertilizer for alkaline soils because it contains 21% nitrogen and 24% sulfur. diammonium sulfate is also used in the preparation of other ammonium salts, as a food additive, and in some industrial processes. It appears as a white, odorless crystalline solid that is highly soluble in water.

  1. Chemical Composition :
    –  Formula : ((NH_4)_2SO_4)
    –  Molar Mass : 132.14 g/mol
  2. Physical Properties :
    –  Appearance : White crystalline solid
    –  Solubility : Highly soluble in water
    –  Density : 1.77 g/cm³
    –  Melting Point*: Decomposes at 235-280°C

Ammonium Sulfate Production

diammonium sulfate is typically produced through several industrial processes. Here are the primary methods:

  1. Direct Reaction of Ammonia and Sulfuric Acid :
    –  Process : The most common method involves the reaction of ammonia gas ((NH_3)) with sulfuric acid ((H_2SO_4)):
    2 NH_3 + H_2SO_4 rightarrow (NH_4)_2SO_4
    –  Details : This exothermic reaction produces diammonium sulfate as a crystalline solid. The product is then purified and dried for various applications.
  2. Caprolactam By-Product :
    –  Process : diammonium sulfate is produced as a by-product during the manufacturing of caprolactam, which is a precursor to nylon.
    –  Details : During the production of caprolactam, ammonium sulfate forms from the neutralization of ammonium hydroxide with sulfuric acid. This method is efficient as it utilizes waste streams from the caprolactam production process.
  3. Gypsum Conversion :
    –  Process : diammonium sulfate can be produced by reacting finely ground gypsum ((CaSO_4 cdot 2H_2O)) with ammonium carbonate (((NH_4)_2CO_3)):
    CaSO_4 cdot 2H_2O + (NH_4)_2CO_3 rightarrow (NH_4)_2SO_4 + CaCO_3 + 2H_2O
    –  Details : This method is often used in regions with abundant gypsum deposits and involves filtering out the calcium carbonate by-product.
  4. Coking of Coal :
    –  Process : diammonium sulfate can be recovered from the by-products of coal coking.
    –  Details : The ammonia released during the coking process is absorbed in sulfuric acid to produce diammonium sulfate.
  5. Sulfur Dioxide Scrubbing :
    –  Process : diammonium sulfate is formed as a by-product in flue gas desulfurization systems where sulfur dioxide ((SO_2)) is scrubbed from exhaust gases.
    –  Details : Ammonia is used to neutralize the sulfuric acid formed in these systems, resulting in the production of diammonium sulfate.

Applications of Ammonium Sulfate

diammonium sulfate has a range of applications across various industries due to its chemical properties. Here are some of its primary uses:

  1. Agriculture :
    –  Fertilizer : It is primarily used as a nitrogen fertilizer. The nitrogen content helps in the growth of plants, while the sulfur content is essential for protein synthesis and enzyme function in plants.
    –  Soil Amendment : Helps in lowering the pH of alkaline soils, making nutrients more accessible to plants.
  2. Food Industry :
    –  Food Additive : Used as a dough conditioner in bread and other baked goods to improve texture and shelf life.
    –  Yeast Nutrient : Acts as a nitrogen source for yeast in the fermentation process.
  3. Industrial Applications :
    –  Flame Retardants : Used in flame retardant materials to enhance their fire-resistant properties.
    –  Water Treatment : Helps in the purification of water by aiding in the coagulation and removal of impurities.
    –  Textile Industry : Used in dyeing processes to help fix dyes to fabrics.
  4. Laboratory Uses :
    –  Protein Purification : Employed in the precipitation of proteins from solutions in biochemical research, particularly in diammonium sulfate fractionation.
    –  Buffer Solutions : Used in certain buffer solutions for biochemical applications.
  5. Pharmaceutical Industry  :
    –  Vaccine Production : Used in the purification process of certain vaccines.
  6. Chemical Manufacturing :
    –  Production of Other Chemicals : Used as a precursor in the production of other ammonium salts and chemicals.
  7. Flotation Agent
    –  Mining Industry : Used as a flotation agent in the mining process to separate minerals from ores.
  8. Agricultural Sprays :
    –  Herbicide Adjuvant : Sometimes mixed with herbicides to improve their effectiveness by facilitating the absorption of the active ingredients by plants.

ammonium sulfate

Diammonium Sulfate Types

diammonium sulfate comes in various forms and grades, each tailored for specific applications. Here are the main types:

  1. Granular Ammonium Sulfate :
    –  Description : Granular form, with larger particle size.
    –  Uses : Primarily used in agriculture as a fertilizer due to its ease of handling, storage, and uniform application.
  2. Powdered Ammonium Sulfate :
    –  Description : Fine, powdery form.
    –  Uses : Commonly used in laboratory settings for protein purification and in industrial applications where a fine, easily soluble form is needed.
  3. Food Grade Ammonium Sulfate :
    –  Description : High-purity diammonium sulfate, suitable for use in food products.
    –  Uses : Used as a dough conditioner, yeast nutrient, and food additive to improve texture and shelf life of baked goods.
  4. Technical Grade Ammonium Sulfate :
    –  Description : High-purity diammonium sulfate for industrial applications.
    –  Uses : Used in water treatment, textile dyeing, chemical synthesis, and as a flame retardant.
  5. Reagent Grade Ammonium Sulfate :
    –  Description : Ultra-pure form used in scientific research.
    –  Uses : Used in biochemical and molecular biology laboratories for protein purification and other sensitive applications requiring high purity.
  6. Agricultural Grade Ammonium Sulfate :
    –  Description : Formulated specifically for agricultural use.
    –  Uses : Widely used as a fertilizer to provide essential nitrogen and sulfur to crops.

Diammonium Sulfate PACKAGING

  1. Plastic or Polypropylene (PP) Bags:
    – Size: Typically available in 25 kg, 50 kg, or 1-ton jumbo bags.
    – Material: Polypropylene or polyethylene lined with an inner layer for moisture resistance.
    – Features: Durable, stackable, and often UV resistant for outdoor storage.
  2. Jumbo Bags / Bulk Bags:
    – Size: 500 kg to 1,000 kg (1 ton).
    – Material: Made from woven polypropylene with an inner liner to protect from moisture.
    – Features: Used for large-scale transport and storage. They have lifting loops for easy handling with cranes or forklifts.
  3. Bulk Packaging:
    – For industrial or large-scale users: Diammonium sulfate can be transported in bulk shipments (like containers or bulk trucks) – —– without the use of bags.
    – Bulk trucks or silo systems: Used to store and transport large quantities directly to production facilities.
  4. Small Packages:
    – Size: 1 kg to 10 kg.
    – Material: Often plastic or laminated paper bags for retail consumers, particularly for garden use.

Certificate of Analysis Ammonium Sulphate

Grade First grade Results
Appearance without visible   

  mechanical impurities.

White  crystal,without visible mechanical impurities.         
Content %≥ 99.0 99.2
N (dry base) %≥ 21.0 21.4
S %≥ 24 24.2
Water (H2O) %≤ 0.2 0.1
Free acid(H2SO4) %≤ 0.03 0.02
Pb %≤ 0.0050 0.00020
As %≤ 0.00005 0.00002
FE %≤ 0.0070 0.0010

Technical Data sheet of Caustic Soda

Certificate of Analysis Ammonium Sulphate

MSDS-Ammonium Sulfate