Nickel Refinery Supplying Ammonium Sulphate to Chemical Plant

Summary

The Kwinana Nickel Refinery produces ammonium sulphate (amsul or (NH4)2SO4)) as a by-product. The amsul is sold in a solid form to a nearby chemical plant for use as a raw material for fertiliser production. In general, ammonium sulphate is used largely as an artificial fertiliser, and also for the preparation of other ammonium salts. In the soil the SO3 is released and forms sulphuric acid, lowering the pH of the soil and the ammonia contributes the nitrogen that plants need to assimilate.

Industry

Industry Sector	Specific Industry
Mining & minerals sector	Nickel refinery
Chemical sector	Producer of industrial chemicals and fertilisers

Region

Kwinana Industrial Area, Kwinana, (Perth , Western Australia).

Applied Technologies

• Crystallisation of liquid ammonium sulphate

Triple Bottom Line Aspects (direct at operational level)

Economic	Lower disposal costs for nickel refinery Increased company income
Environment	No ammonium sulphate being landfilled or stockpiled Improved resource efficiency
Social	Less industrial by-products going to landfill

Additional Comments

None.

References

• van Beers, D, Bossilkov, A and van Berkel, R (2005) “Capturing Regional Synergies in the Kwinana Industrial Area – 2005 Status Report”, CSRP Report (for Project 3B1), August 2005

Last Update

18 January 2007