Manufacture of Nitric Acid
Production of nitric acid via catalytic oxidation of ammonia with specific N2O and CO2 emission thresholds.
Substantial Contribution to Climate Change Mitigation
The specific GHG emissions from nitric acid production must not exceed 0.302 tCO2e per tonne of nitric acid (100% concentration), corresponding to the EU ETS product benchmark. This threshold is dominated by N2O emissions (which have a GWP of 273 over 100 years per AR6) from the catalytic oxidation of ammonia, plus direct CO2 emissions from energy use and indirect emissions from electricity consumption.
BAT as defined in the Large Volume Inorganic Chemicals - Ammonia, Acids and Fertilisers (LVIC-AAF) BREF requires N2O abatement achieving residual emission levels below 0.12-0.45 kg N2O per tonne of nitric acid (100%), depending on plant type and abatement technology. Secondary abatement (catalytic decomposition in the reactor) and/or tertiary abatement (catalytic reduction in the tail gas using hydrocarbons or ammonia as reductant) must achieve combined N2O destruction efficiency above 98.5%.
Modern dual-pressure plants operating at 8-12 bar absorption pressure achieve higher acid concentrations with lower tail gas losses. Energy recovery via tail gas expansion turbines must be optimised to reduce net energy consumption. Plants producing weak acid (typically 50-65%) must include concentration stages with efficient heat integration.
Substantial Contribution to Climate Change Adaptation
A CRVA per Appendix A must cover the nitric acid plant under RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 climate projections.
DNSH: Climate Change Adaptation
Physical climate risks must be assessed, including extreme heat effects on ammonia oxidation catalyst performance, cooling water availability, and flooding risks to acid storage areas. Adaptation measures must be implemented for all material risks.
DNSH: Water and Marine Resources
The activity must comply with the Water Framework Directive. Process condensate and cooling water discharge must meet BAT-AELs. Nitrate concentrations in wastewater must remain below BAT-AEL levels from the LVIC-AAF BREF. Acid spill containment and neutralisation systems must be in place.
DNSH: Circular Economy
Platinum-rhodium gauze catalysts (ammonia burner) must be recovered and recycled. Catalyst catchment systems (palladium-based getter gauzes) must achieve above 80% precious metal recovery. Process steam generated from the exothermic oxidation reaction must be exported or used in integrated downstream processes (e.g. ammonium nitrate or NPK fertiliser production).
DNSH: Pollution Prevention and Control
The activity must comply with the Industrial Emissions Directive and LVIC-AAF BREF. NOx emissions in tail gas must not exceed 50-100 ppmv after SCR abatement (BAT-AEL). N2O residual emissions must meet the benchmarks specified above. Ammonia slip from the SCR system must be below 5 ppmv. Acid mist emissions must be controlled with high-efficiency demisters.