Nitric acid is a widely used chemical for the production of fertilizers, explosives, nylon precursors, and specialty organic compounds. Nitric acid is neutralized with ammonia to make ammonium nitrate, which is a major raw material to make fertilizers and explosives.

 
Dyno Nobel operated a nitric acid plant in Nevada, USA to produce ammonium nitrate for the local mining industry. When the mining business hit a down turn and market demand for ammonium nitrate decreased, the nitric acid plant was shut down in 2010 and mothballed. This 350 TPD plant was a Chemico mono-high-pressure process, with a steam turbine driven Ingersoll-Rand compressor train, ammonia-to-acid conversation rate of 0.288; and produced 57% concentration nitric acid. 

After making a decision to permanently shutter the plant and convert the site to a terminal operation, Dyno Nobel engaged Phoenix to find potential buyers for the nitric acid and ammonium nitrate plants. Phoenix developed well qualified buyers from several countries and coordinated a thorough due diligence for the buyers. After due diligence was completed, Phoenix acquired both the nitric acid and ammonium nitrate plants, and also committed to perform the removal of all assets that couldn’t be relocated, such as the ammonium nitrate prill tower at no cost to Dyno Nobel.  For the buyer, Phoenix sold the plant delivered to the Port of Houston. Our scope of work included match-marking, dismantling, packing, and shipping the nitric acid plant. We packed pipe and small items in over 10 sea containers, sent large and oversized pieces breakbulk via 25+ trucks, and transported super heavy haul loads – the absorber tower and plant boiler – via rail. The plant was relocated to the Middle East.