The basics of Ammonium Sulfate
Ammonium Sulphate is an inorganic salt with a number of commerical uses. The most common uses are as soil fertilizer, food additives & in the treatment of drinking water.
Fertilizer
The primary use of Ammonium Sulfate is as a fertilizer for alkaline soils. In the soil the ammonium ion is released and forms a small amount of acid, lowering the pH balance of the soil, while contributing essential nitrogen for plant growth.
Food Additives | Acid Regulator (E517)
As a food additive, Ammonium Sulfate is considered generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and in the European Union it is designated by the E number E517. It is used as an acidity regulator in flours and breads.
Treatment of drinking water
In the treatment of drinking water, Ammonium Sulfate is used in combination with chlorine to generate monochloramine for disinfection.
A) Synthetic production of Ammonium Sulfate out of ammonia gas and sulfuric acid.
B) Recovering Ammonium Sulfate out of sulfuric- or ammonia containing wastewater from processes such as:
- Acrylnitrile (AN) → Acrylamide, glue, solvents
- Methylmethacrylate (MMA) → acrylic glass (plexiglass)
- Caprolactam (CPL) → Polyamide 6 (textile fiber, foil)
C) By-product of the desulfurization of coke oven gas or ammonia-containing wastewater.
