Blue ammonia offers a sustainable alternative to traditional gray ammonia production by taking advantage of new advances in carbon capture and sequestration technologies.
*Sponsored content: This article is sponsored by Yokogawa.
Ammonia plays a pivotal role in global food production, especially in fertilizers. Traditionally, ammonia is produced using the Haber-Bosch process, which requires purified atmospheric nitrogen as well as hydrogen, typically produced via steam methane reforming (SMR) of natural gas. This high-pressure process is highly efficient for industrial ammonia production but generates significant carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The ammonia produced this way is termed “gray” ammonia and contributes substantially to climate change due to its heavy carbon footprint. In today’s world, the urgent need for sustainable alternatives has driven the search for innovative ways to decarbonize ammonia production.
Fortunately, optimizing processes and adopting carbon capture technologies offer a clear path forward. Steps can be taken immediately to begin reducing carbon emissions in the ammonia value chain. Producers can modify current facilities to generate ammonia from lower-emission production methods, and implement more sustainable practices like converting waste products into sustainable fertilizers made from nitrogen byproducts like urea and ammonium sulfate.
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