A dual-pressure plant for the synthesis of nitric acid comprising: a reactor (4) providing a gaseous effluent (15) containing nitrogen oxides; an absorption tower (6) nitrogen oxides react with water providing raw nitric acid and, said absorption tower operating at a pressure greater than the pressure of the reactor; a compressor (5) elevating the pressure of the reactor effluent (15) to the absorption pressure; said plant also comprising a first bleacher (37) and a second bleacher (7), said first bleacher (37) stripping with air (39) nitrogen oxides from the output stream (27) of the absorption tower (6) providing a partially stripped nitric acid stream (40) and a nitrogen oxides-loaded air stream (41), the former being fed to the second bleacher (7) and the latter being recycled to the delivery-side of said compressor (5).

A process and a plant for producing nitric acid involves oxidizing ammonia in the presence of catalysts to provide nitrogen monoxide-containing process gas in an oxidation reactor. The formed nitrogen monoxide may be supplied with oxygen-containing gas, and nitrogen monoxide is oxidized to provide nitrogen dioxide that is reacted with water in an absorption apparatus to give nitric acid, nitrous acid, and/or solutions of nitrates and/or nitrites. Oxidation of the nitrogen monoxide may be effected in an additional reactor positioned between the oxidation reactor and the absorption apparatus and traversed by the process gas. The oxidation of the nitrogen monoxide may be effected in an additional reactor parallel and connected to the absorption apparatus and traversed by the process gas. The disclosed processes and plants feature a high energy efficiency combined with a simple construction, and existing plants are easily upgradeable.

A process and a plant for producing nitric acid involves oxidizing ammonia in the presence of catalysts to provide nitrogen monoxide-containing process gas in an oxidation reactor. The formed nitrogen monoxide may be supplied with oxygen-containing gas, and nitrogen monoxide is oxidized to provide nitrogen dioxide that is reacted with water in an absorption apparatus to give nitric acid, nitrous acid, and/or solutions of nitrates and/or nitrites. Oxidation of the nitrogen monoxide may be effected in an additional reactor positioned between the oxidation reactor and the absorption apparatus and traversed by the process gas. The oxidation of the nitrogen monoxide may be effected in an additional reactor parallel and connected to the absorption apparatus and traversed by the process gas. The disclosed processes and plants feature a high energy efficiency combined with a simple construction, and existing plants are easily upgradeable.

A dual-pressure plant for the synthesis of nitric acid comprising: a reactor (4) providing a gaseous effluent (15) containing nitrogen oxides; an absorption tower (6) nitrogen oxides react with water providing raw nitric acid and, said absorption tower operating at a pressure greater than the pressure of the reactor; a compressor (5) elevating the pressure of the reactor effluent (15) to the absorption pressure; said plant also comprising a first bleacher (37) and a second bleacher (7), said first bleacher (37) stripping with air (39) nitrogen oxides from the output stream (27) of the absorption tower (6) providing a partially stripped nitric acid stream (40) and a nitrogen oxides-loaded air stream (41), the former being fed to the second bleacher (7) and the latter being recycled to the delivery-side of said compressor (5).

Known catalyst systems for the catalytic combustion of ammonia to form nitrogen oxides consist of a plurality of single- or multilayer catalyst gauzes warp-knitted, weft-knitted or woven from platinum-based noble metal wire, which, when arranged one behind the other in a fresh gas flow direction, form a front group of gauze layers and at least one downstream group of gauze layers arranged after the front group. To provide from this starting point a catalyst system for use in a medium-pressure plant for ammonia oxidation, with which a high service life and a high yield of the main product NO can be achieved, it is proposed that the front group comprises a gauze layer or a plurality of gauze layers made of a first, rhodium-rich noble metal wire, wherein the gauze layer or one of the gauze layers made of the rhodium-rich noble metal wire is a front gauze layer facing the fresh gas, and that the downstream group comprises gauze layers made of a second, rhodium-poor noble metal wire, wherein the rhodium content in the rhodium-rich noble metal wire is at least 7 wt. % and no more than 9 wt. % and is at least 1 percentage point higher than the rhodium content in the rhodium-poor noble metal wire

Integrated process for the synthesis of ammonia and nitric acid, comprising a synthesis of nitric acid including the following steps: a) subjecting a stream of ammonia (10) to catalytic oxidation, obtaining a gaseous stream containing nitrogen oxides (13); b) subjecting said gaseous stream to a process of absorption of nitrogen oxides, providing nitric acid (16) and a tail gas (17) containing nitrogen and residual nitrogen oxides; c) subjecting at least a portion of said first tail gas (17) to a process of removal of nitrogen oxides, providing a nitrogen oxides-depleted tail gas (18), and comprising a synthesis of ammonia by catalytic conversion of a make-up gas (126, 226) comprising hydrogen and nitrogen in an ammonia synthesis loop, wherein at least a portion (18b, 18d, 21) of said second tail gas is used as nitrogen source for obtaining said make-up gas (126, 226).

Integrated process for the synthesis of ammonia and nitric acid, comprising a synthesis of nitric acid including the following steps: a) subjecting a stream of ammonia (10) to catalytic oxidation, obtaining a gaseous stream containing nitrogen oxides (13); b) subjecting said gaseous stream to a process of absorption of nitrogen oxides, providing nitric acid (16) and a tail gas (17) containing nitrogen and residual nitrogen oxides; c) subjecting at least a portion of said first tail gas (17) to a process of removal of nitrogen oxides, providing a nitrogen oxides-depleted tail gas (18), and comprising a synthesis of ammonia by catalytic conversion of a make-up gas (126, 226) comprising hydrogen and nitrogen in an ammonia synthesis loop, wherein at least a portion (18b, 18d, 21) of said second tail gas is used as nitrogen source for obtaining said make-up gas (126, 226).

A novel concept for a high energy and material efficient nitric acid production process and system is provided, wherein the nitric acid production process and system, particularly integrated with an ammonia production process and system, is configured to recover a high amount of energy out of the ammonia that it is consuming, particularly in the form of electricity, while maintaining a high nitric acid recovery in the conversion of ammonia to nitric acid. The energy recovery and electricity generation process comprises pressurizing a liquid gas, such as air, oxygen and/or N.sub.2, subsequently evaporating and heating the pressurized liquid gas, particularly using low grade waste heat generated in the production of nitric acid and/or ammonia, and subsequently expanding the evaporated pressurized liquid gas over a turbine. In particular, the generated electricity is at least partially used to power an electrolyzer to generate the hydrogen needed for the production of ammonia. The novel concepts set out in the present application are particularly useful in the production of nitric acid based on renewable energy sources.

A novel concept for a high energy and material efficient nitric acid production process and system is provided, wherein the nitric acid production process and system, particularly integrated with an ammonia production process and system, is configured to recover a high amount of energy out of the ammonia that it is consuming, particularly in the form of electricity, while maintaining a high nitric acid recovery in the conversion of ammonia to nitric acid. The energy recovery and electricity generation process comprises pressurizing a liquid gas, such as air, oxygen and/or N.sub.2, subsequently evaporating and heating the pressurized liquid gas, particularly using low grade waste heat generated in the production of nitric acid and/or ammonia, and subsequently expanding the evaporated pressurized liquid gas over a turbine. In particular, the generated electricity is at least partially used to power an electrolyzer to generate the hydrogen needed for the production of ammonia. The novel concepts set out in the present application are particularly useful in the production of nitric acid based on renewable energy sources.

A process comprising: subjecting a process gas containing NOx to a stage for absorption of NOx in a suitable absorption means, obtaining nitric acid and a tail gas containing nitrogen, argon and residual NOx; subjecting said tail gas to a treatment which comprises at least one NOx removal stage, obtaining a conditioned tail gas; subjecting at least a portion of said conditioned tail gas to a separation treatment, obtaining a product stream containing argon and a product stream containing nitrogen.