NEXTCHEM (MAIRE) to provide the license and PDP for a new nitric acid plant in China and technical assistance services for the revamping of a nitrogen fertilizer complex
The following case study describes a serious incident and the consequences of erroneously mixing nitric acid with hydrochloric acid. In Part 1 we reported on the incident and the causes that led up to the event. In part 2 the impact, recommendations and lessons learned will be discussed.
The nitrogen plants at HIP’s Azotara site are to be dismantled and removed as part of plans to convert the site to a data storage facility. Plants to be removed include the urea plant and urea storage facility, the UAN liquid storage facility, the calcium ammonium nitrate and nitric acid plans, and thegrain storage societies. In addition, the entire Block 6 is planned to be removed, which includes ammonia plants and storage, nitric acid and urea production, all of which have been out of operation for a long time.
Nitric acid demand continues to be dominated by fertilizer uses via various nitrate and NPK fertilizers, but industrial chemical production, metallurgical uses and explosives production are continuing to contribute to growth, especially in Asia.
An explosion at the FrieslandCampina site in Borculo in July 2025 this year was reportedly caused by an error in the discharge of hydrochloric acid. The explosion released a mix of chlorine gas and nitrogen oxides. A truck driver reported to the wrong unloading point at the dairy company in Gelderland on 4th. Both the driver and a factory employee failed to properly check the cargo’s paperwork, resulting in the hydrochloric acid being unloaded into a nitric acid tank. Furthermore, an incorrect coupling was used during the unloading process, the company reported after its own investigation. An orange cloud containing chlorine gas and nitrogen dioxide was released and spread throughout the surrounding area. Around 21:00, the site was evacuated and the fire department was alerted. At 22:13, the tank exploded. The tank lid was later found in a meadow near the factory.
Yara has applied for a new environmental permit in order to be able to import 275,000 t/a of ammonia by rail to its site at Tertre in the Saint-Ghislain municipality. The permit will cover ammonia to continue to operate downstream nitric acid and ammonium nitrate production at Tertre following the closure of the site’s 400,000 t/a ammonia plant. A public inquiry into the permit is expected to be completed in early September 2025. Yara says that train traffic to the site will increase to around 5 trains per week if the permit is granted.
Umicore’s latest research and development has resulted in a novel catalyst for the Ostwald process, aiming to enhance efficiency and sustainability in high-pressure nitric acid production.
The following case study describes a serious incident and the consequences of erroneously mixing nitric acid with hydrochloric acid. In Part 1 we report on the incident and the causes that led up to the event. In part 2 the impact, recommendations and lessons learned will be discussed.
Two fertilizer plants, formerly part of the Interagro Group, are being offered for sale by the liquidator, Sierra Quadrant. The factories, Ga-Pro-Co in Săvinești and Donau Chem at Turnu Măgurele, are available for direct negotiation starting at €17.8 million plus VAT and €18 million plus VAT, according to the liquidator, with a public auction to be held in September. Assets available include plants for the production of ammonia, urea, nitric acid, ammonium nitrate and liquid fertilisers, as well as transportation infrastructure for both road and rail.
There has been a release of nitrogen oxides from Austin Powder’s Red Diamond plant in Ohio. The company says that the decomposition of nitric acid caused the incident due to elevated temperatures inside a 5,000-gallon storage tank. This led to a visible release of nitrogen oxide gas, which was vented through the plant’s built-in safety […]