Ammonia: Characteristics
Could this pungent gas fuel the world's ships?
Could this pungent gas fuel the world's ships? What this tab covers The physical and chemical properties that set its grade, price and uses, with the commercial grades and the standards that define them.Ammonia is 82.2% nitrogen and boils at -33 C, so it is stored and shipped as a refrigerated or pressurised liquid. Commercial value rests on nitrogen content and on handling cost. As a fuel it holds 18.6 GJ per tonne, about 40% of diesel, and burns without CO2 but with NOx and N2O risks.
Properties that matter commercially
| Property | Value / specification | Why it matters | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrogen content | 82.2% N | highest of any nitrogen product | stoichiometry |
| Boiling point | -33 C | refrigerated storage at atmospheric pressure | physical data |
| Liquid density | about 0.68 t per m3 | ship and tank sizing | physical data (indicative) |
| Heating value | about 18.6 GJ/t LHV | value as fuel and hydrogen carrier | physical data (indicative) |
| Purity | commercial anhydrous ammonia at least 99.5% NH3 (indicative) | water content affects corrosion and use | industry specification (indicative) |
Commercial grades
- Anhydrous ammonia (fertiliser and industrial)
- Refrigeration grade (R717)
- Aqueous ammonia 20-30% (DeNOx, chemicals)
- Electronic grade for semiconductors
- Low-carbon (blue, green) ammonia certified by carbon intensity