[Terrapreta] eprida nitrogenous char

[Gerald Van Koeverden]

The cost of producing of nitrogen fertilizer is driven by the price  
of gas.  But experts are saying recent dramatic increases in its  
selling price are driven more by an increase in demand.

"In the past, the price of nitrogen fertilizer was closely tied to  
the price of natural gas used in its manufacture.

'It is part of the overall energy complex, so when energy prices  
moved up, nitrogen prices went up,' Oldham said. 'Today its price is  
driven by the dramatic increase in worldwide demand.'

India, China and Brazil historically have been major consumers of  
fertilizer and recently have increased their demand, contributing to  
the higher fertilizer prices for all producers."

>  from:   http://msucares.com/news/print/agnews/an07/071219.html

Gerrit

On 14-Jan-08, at 12:43 AM, Sean K. Barry wrote:

> Hi Gerrit,
>
> Nitrogen prices are so high because almost all nitrogen based  
> fertilizers are made from natural gas.  Natural gas is mostly  
> Methane-CH4, some Carbon monoxide-CO, and some Hydrogen H2.  These  
> gases can be easily reformed, "cracking" the larger molecules into  
> H2, CO, and CO2.
> Further H2 can be obtained by using a "water-shift" reaction on  
> this "synthesis gas" (H2, CO, CO2), that uses hot injected steam to  
> convert come of the CO to CO2 and release more H2 for the H2O  
> (water) injection.   The Hydrogen gas-H2 then becomes the feedstock  
> for making ammonia-NH4 using the Haber-Bausch process that combines  
> Nitrogen gas-N2 form the air with the Hydrogen-H2 gas to make NH3.
>
> Ammonia is the principle chemical component in ALL industrially  
> made high nitrogen fertilizers.  Ammonium carbonate - (NH4)2CO3,  
> Ammonium bicarbonate - NH4HCO3, Ammonium sulfate - (NH4)2SO4,  and  
> Ammonium nitrate - NH4NO3 are all ammonia salts that are  
> constituents of high nitrogen fertilizers.
>
> So, as natural gas prices go up, so does the cost of manufacturing  
> and supplying (as well as the price of buying) high nitrogen  
> fertilizers.
>
> Regards,
>
> SKB
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Gerald Van Koeverden
> To: Terra Preta
> Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2008 11:04 PM
> Subject: [Terrapreta] eprida nitrogenous char
>
> Has anybody heard what Eprida figures the production cost of their  
> high nitrogen char would be to the producer using their equipment?   
> What is the nitrogen content of their char?
>
> the reason I'm asking is that nitrogen fertilizers are becoming  
> much more expensive recently - $0.55-0.60/lb..  Is the cost of  
> Eprida's nitrogen anywhere close?  Since charcoal absorbed nitrogen  
> would be a more efficient source of supplying nitrogen, even if it  
> were, let's say 30-40% more expensive, it might still be  
> competitive, with the added bonus of adding charcoal to the soil...
>
> Why
> "Why are nitrogen prices so high?"
>
> by Eddie Funderburg
>
> "Nitrogen fertilizer prices have been high for several months now.  
> In some cases, the price has gone up 50 percent or more, but why is  
> it increasing? The price of nitrogen fertilizers is directly  
> related to the price of natural gas (methane). Manufacturing 1 ton  
> of anhydrous ammonia fertilizer requires 33,500 cubic feet of  
> natural gas. This cost represents most of the costs associated with  
> manufacturing anhydrous ammonia. When natural gas prices are $2.50  
> per thousand cubic feet, the natural gas used to manufacture 1 ton  
> of anhydrous ammonia fertilizer costs $83.75. If the price rises to  
> $7.00 per thousand cubic feet of natural gas, the cost of natural  
> gas used in manufacturing that ton of anhydrous ammonia rises to  
> $234.50, an increase to the manufacturer of $150.75."
>
> http://www.noble.org/Ag/Soils/NitrogenPrices/Index.htm
>
>
> "Larry Oldham, Extension soil specialist, said corn uses between  
> 130 and 250 pounds of nitrogen fertilizer per acre, depending on  
> the soil and crop management factors.
>
> 'Our nitrogen prices have been 55 to 60 cents a pound. That’s a  
> historical high,' Oldham said."
>
> http://msucares.com/news/print/agnews/an07/071219.html
>
> Gerrit
>
>
>
>
>
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