Nitrous Oxide Plant

Process Description

Nitrous Oxide is produced by heating Ammonium Nitrate to a temperature of 250 Deg.c. Ammonium Nitrate is decomposed in the process to give a mixture of Nitrous Oxide & super heated steam. At the same time impurities are produced including Ammonium Nitrate fumes, Nitrogen & other oxides of Nitrogen. The steam & impurities are removed by scrubbing with water, caustic soda and sulphuric acid in sequence Nitrogen present in traces is removed by bleeding from the top of storage vessels where Nitrous Oxide is stored, after compression by a compressor.

Nitrous Oxide Plant 

• Available capacities - 8,16 and 24 u.m./hr(1 kg – 0.533cu.m)
• Manufactured under strict supervision of experienced personnel
• The nitrous oxide gas conforms to Indian pharmacopia standards, US & European Standards.

Plant Requirement

• Raw material Ammonium nitrate.
• Electric power - 100 HP (Max.)
• Cooling water system
• Good quality of water

Production
It is produced by heating Ammonium Nitrate to a temperature of approximately 250 C. Heating could be either electrically or by gas. It is then purified in a series of towers before collecting in a gas holder. Gas is then Compressed by a water lubricated compressor, dried and liquefied. Liquid Nitrous oxide is stored in storage vessels where Nitrogen , if present, is removed. Pure liquid Nitrogen oxide is then filled into cylinders by weight. Uses Nitrous oxide gas is mainly used for anesthetic purposes. It is administered with oxygen. It is also used as carrier gas in laboratory Instruments. It also finds application, as a propellant in aerosols and food stuff.