Natural gas is used both as a source of hydrogen for the chemical reaction and the energy source. About 60 percent of the natural gas is used as a raw material and the remainder is used to power the synthesis process.

The air we breathe contains about 78% nitrogen gas that can be converted to ammonia. Nitrogen from the air is mixed with hydrogen from natural gas at a high temperature and pressure to create ammonia at an ammonia plant.

Nitrogen from the air is mixed with hydrogen from natural gas at a high temperature and pressure to create ammonia at an ammonia plant.

Ammonia is mixed with air in a tank to make nitric acid. This is followed by the absorption of the nitric oxide gas in water.

Anhydrous ammonia is stored as a liquid under pressure or refrigerated. Ammonia can be shipped for direct application or can be used as substrate for producing other nitrogen or nitrogen-phosphate fertilizers.

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is a by-product of the natural gas in the production of ammonia. Ammonia is mixed with liquid carbon dioxide at high pressure to create urea.

Concentrated nitric acid (50-70 percent) and ammonia gas are mixed in a tank and a reaction occurs producing ammonium nitrate.

Urea solution, or liquor, can be further concentrated, converted to granules (called granulation), and dried (solid form).

Urea solution is mixed with ammonium nitrate solution and water to form urea-ammonium nitrate (UAN) solution.

Ammonium nitrate solution, or “liquor”, can be further concentrated, converted to granules (called granulation), and dried (solid form).

Ammonium nitrate solution is mixed with urea solution to form urea-ammonium nitrate (UAN) solution.

Ammonium nitrate solution is mixed with urea solution to form urea-ammonium nitrate (UAN) solution.