[Terrapreta] Sugar and urine experiments

[Sean K. Barry]

Hi Kurt,

Ammonium Nitrate is a salt (NH4NO3) and the main component of those bomb makers choice of chemical fertilizers. An aqueous solution of ammonium nitrate dissolves in the NH4NO3 molecules in water into two molecules (nitrous oxide) N2O, a gas and H2O, liquid water.
Decomposing the fertilizer completely in solution usually requires a fair amount of heat and/or time.

NH4NO3(aqueous) + heat -> N2O + 2H2O

Yes, N2O, nitrous oxide, is a heavier than air gas (laughing gas), but it is less dense than soil and it will "gas off" into the atmosphere.
It is a powerful green house gas, third on the list of contributors to global warming.  It's anthropogenic sources are larger than natural ones, I believe (although I may be mistaken on that).

SKB


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: rukurt at westnet.com.au<mailto:rukurt at westnet.com.au> 
  To: Sean K. Barry<mailto:sean.barry at juno.com> 
  Sent: Sunday, April 22, 2007 11:15 PM
  Subject: Re: Sugar and urine experiments


  Sean K. Barry wrote:
  > <snip>
  > Discussion: Well, if that bacteria "fixes" nitrogen into the soil, how does that nitrogen get released into water solution, so the plants can take it up into their roots, before it "gases off" into the atmosphere?  
  What happens is that the bacteria take N2 from the atmosphere and turn 
  it into nitrate, which is attached to, possibly, ammonium, thus making 
  ammonium nitrate. There--- it's fixed. And plants can take up the 
  nitrate and use it in their metabolism.
  No problem with the nitrogen gassing off back into the atmosphere, 
  nitrates are reasonably stable and could be bought by the 40kg bag from 
  agricultural supply stores. Bit harder these days now that terrorists 
  have learnt to mix it with diesel fuel and make bombs out of it.
  Oh, and how does it get released into water solution?? Buggered if I 
  know, maybe the bacteria excrete it, maybe they store it internally and 
  it comes out when they die--- does it matter? Maybe someone will/has 
  do/ne the research.
  > <snipped>.
  >
  > I need a break.
  >   
  Yep, you do :)


  Kurt

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