Production of Ammonia and Nitrogen Fertilizers based on Biomass

Research efforts in Sweden

Serina Ahlgren
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Energy and Technology
Tenth Annual NH3 Fuel Conference, September 23, 2013

Abstract

The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences have been conducting research on production of ammonia and nitrogen fertilizers based on bioenergy since 2006, in the last years in co-operation with Lund University and University of Minnesota.

The research has so far been theoretical — studying the techno-economics and the potential environmental impacts. Several possible pathways for ammonia and ammonium nitrate fertilizer production have been explored, e.g. gasification of woody biomass, reforming of biogas from anaerobic digestion, integration in biomass CHP plants.

A selection of results from the past years research can be presented:
Techno-Economic Assessment of Non-Fossil Ammonia Production
P. Tunå, C. Hulteberg, S. Ahlgren. Submitted to Chemical Engineering Science, April 2013.
Consequential Life Cycle Assessment of Nitrogen Fertilisers Based on Biomass — a Swedish perspective
S. Ahlgren, A. Baky, S. Bernesson, Å. Nordberg, O. Norén, P.A. Hansson, 2012. Insciences Journal Climate Change, 2(4), 80-101.
Nitrogen fertiliser production based on biogas — Energy input, environmental impact and land use
S. Ahlgren, S. Bernesson, A. Nordberg, P.A. Hansson, 2010. Bioresource Technology 101(18), 7192-7195.
Crop production without fossil fuel. Production systems for tractor fuel and mineral nitrogen based on biomass
S. Ahlgren, 2009. Doctoral dissertation. Dept. of Energy and Technology, SLU. Acta Universitatis agriculturae Sueciae vol. 2009:78.
Ammonium nitrate fertiliser production based on biomass — environmental effects in a life cycle perspective
S. Ahlgren, A. Baky, S. Bernesson, Å. Nordberg, O. Norén, P.A. Hansson, 2008. Bioresource Technology 99, 8034–8041.

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Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Energy and Technology
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