Improved Process for High Concentration of Nitric Acid Using Magnesium Nitrate

Abstract

The high concentration of weak nitric acid using magnesium nitrate is a proven technology since years. Due to higher requirements in regard to product quality, effluent gas and effluent water as well as due to the necessity to reduce the energy consumption of the process and the amount of raw materials the process has to be adapted. By introducing additional process steps using recycled water condensate, which is produced in the process the losses of nitric acid with the effluent gas and the process condensate are minimized on the one hand. On the other hand simultaneously the NO x content of the effluent gas and the nitrate content of the effluent water are minimized. Due to the improvements an eco-efficient process for high concentration of nitric acid is now available using best available techniques (BAT) and a design according to European guidelines for Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC).