. NITROGHN PRODUCTS. 
' The ammonia oxidation’ process, in’ its modern developments, has 
» been proved to afford a reliable and simple means of obtaining nitric 
acid and nitrates. Early in the war, a full-scale installation was erected 
on the Thames by private enterprise, supported by the Government, the 
older method of oxidation being utilized. A long series of experiments 
carried out at the Research Laboratory of the Department resulted in 
the design of a simple and modified plant which has been installed on 
a trial scale at several works in the country. The designs of the 
ammonia oxidation section of the Government ammonium nitrate fac- 
tory referred to above were based upon the results obtained in these 
research and trial’ operations. The Committee recommends that an 
ammonia oxidation plant should be completed in conjunction with the 
synthetic ammonia factory already referred to, as was originally con- 
templated by the Government, on a scale sufficient to produce about 
10,000 tons of strong nitric acid per annum, or its equivalent in 
nitrates. The plant should be designed to utilize either synthetic or 
by-product ammonia as a raw material, because the national interests 
demand that adequate experience in the production of nitric acid from 
ammonia from all sources should be available in Great Britain. 
The Committee makes the following recommendations for consery- 
ing and increasing the output of combined nitrogen from existing by- 
product ammonia industries, for securing the better utilization of the 
national resources in coal, and for reducing the consumption of raw 
coal as a fuel. ; 
The Committee recommends that :— 
(1) Encouragement should be given to facilitate and to insure the - 
replacement of non-recovery coke-ovens by recovery ovens 
at a much more rapid rate than hitherto, in order that 
the reserves of coking coal shall be utilized to the maximum 
advantage. 
(2) It should be incumbent on all gasworks which now contribute 
_ to the home supplies of ammonia nitrogen to put into prac- 
tice the various simple expedients that have been proved - 
to result in a considerable diminution in the loss of ammonia 
by volatilization or otherwise. The statutory powers 
administered by the Local Government Board through the 
Chief Inspector of Alkali Works should, if necessary, be 
extended to insure that this is done. 
(3) In collaboration with the responsible organization of the gas 
industry, a comprehensive scheme of ammonia recovery and 
collection (including distribution of sulphuric. acid) should 
be devised, which will be economically applicable to as many 
as possible of the smaller works where ammonia is at present 
allowed to run to waste. Wherever it can be shown that 
no financial loss would be incurred by any works included 
in the scheme, the works should be required, in the national 
interests, to co-operate. When a scheme has been devised, 
powers should, if necessary, be conferred upon the Local 
Government Board to insure its operation and administra- 
tion. 
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