Cyanamide process

Cyanamide process is a process of manufacturing fertilizer calcium cyanamide and ammonia. The reaction runs at high temperatures 1000 - 1100 °C often with catalyst in mixture of nitrogen and calcium carbide, which form calcium cyanamide and carbon:

CaC₂ + N₂ → CaCN₂ + C

Further produced calcium cyanamide gives together with water steam calcium carbonate and ammonia:

CaCN₂ + 3 H₂O → CaCO₃ + 2 NH₃

The second phase of this process can proceed also in soil. Then the produced ammonia is oxidized to nitrate and used by plants.

External links

• Entry at The Free Dictionary
• Nitrogen fixation article